Besiktas host Kauno Zalgiris in Europa League qualifying

Contrasting runs

Besiktas have won their last five recent matches, each by a single goal. The sequence includes a 1-0 win over FC Hradec Králové on 6 August and another by the same margin against the same opponents a week later, followed by a 1-0 victory over EYU on 16 August. Before that came wins over MID in late July, 1-0 and 2-0. Narrow margins, but no slip.

Kauno Zalgiris have taken two wins, one draw and two defeats from their last five. They beat DRI 3-2 in mid-July, then drew 0-0 with KLA before winning the return 1-0. The last fortnight has gone the other way: a 5-0 defeat to DZG on 4 August, then a 2-1 loss to the same side a week later. The two heavy defeats to DZG underline the scale of the task at Vodafone Park.

What the format demands

This is a Europa League qualifying tie, which means. Besiktas have momentum and home advantage; Kauno Zalgiris need to reverse the pattern of their August results in a single evening in Istanbul.

Confirmed line-ups

Besiktas (4-1-4-1): Alexander Nübel, Emir Han Topcu, Tiago Djaló, Salih Özcan, Ridvan Yilmaz, Amir Murillo, Junior Olaitan, Orkun Kökçü, Leandro Trossard, Václav Cerný, Oh Hyeon-Gyu

Kauno Zalgiris (4-1-4-1): Tomas Svedkauskas, Rokas Lekiatas, Anton Tolordava, Vykintas Slivka, Marko Konatar, Joris Moutachy, Anthony Kalik, Franco Baldassarra, Leon Krekovic, Amine Benchaib, Gabriel Debeljuh

We are covering this one live. Follow it with us in the match centre for the line-ups when they land, the goals as they go in, and the full timeline.