The anticipation is heating up as Besiktas prepares to take on Athletic Bilbao on January 22, 2025, at 18:30 Moscow time, as part of the UEFA Europa League group stage. This marks another opportunity for the Turkish club to turn their fortunes around against the strong Basque side, who have been nothing short of remarkable this season.
Entering the match, Besiktas finds itself at the crossroads, displaying inconsistent performances throughout the current campaign. With only two wins and four losses out of six matches, they languish with just six points, leaving them 28th on the table. The expectations were high for the team, and disappointingly, they have experienced both on-field issues and internal strife leading to the recent resignation of the previous manager.
Recognizing the pressing need for change, the club turned to former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, hoping his experience will breathe new life and strategy for the squad. According to soccer analysts, "The appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should change the direction of the season for Besiktas," reported by Soccer365.ru. With pressure on his shoulders, Solskjaer begins what many hope will be the first step toward redemption for Besiktas.
On the other side of the pitch, Athletic Bilbao has been anything but struggling. They have shown resilience and skill, leading to five wins and only one draw across their six Europa League group matches, which securely places them at second place on the table, only behind Lazio on goal difference. Remarkably, Athletic has conceded just two goals, with four clean sheets marking the best defensive record of the competition. "Athletic Bilbao boasts the best defense, conceding only two goals across their six matches, with four clean sheets," stated the official Athletic Bilbao report.
Despite recent setbacks including losses against Barcelona and Osasuna, the team managed to bounce back with a 2-1 victory against Celta, showcasing their tenacity. The squad, under Ernesto Valverde, is spreading their resources thin, balancing commitments between La Liga and the Europa League. This blend of tournaments becomes particularly challenging when managing injuries, which poses obstacles for Athletic as their top scorer Oihan Sunset will be missing from the lineup due to injury. His absence could mean changes to their attacking structure for this pivotal match.
Faced with the statistical reality, it seems more and more people are placing their bets on Athletic Bilbao for this matchup. Several bookmakers favor Athletic with odds of 1.85, compared to Besiktas’s higher odds of 4.05 for victory. Given their current form, it’s hard to argue against the odds. Yet, football is often unpredictable, particularly in high-stakes matches. Solskjaer’s influence could potentially reawaken the fire within Besiktas, promising to make this clash over more than just points; it’s about pride and proving themselves on the European stage.
With expectations of both teams bringing their A-game on the night, analysts predict it to be closely contested. Historical performance suggests both teams scoring is plausible. “Expect changes with Solskjaer’s leadership, with players like Ciro Immobile needing to prove their value,” concluded Soccer365.ru. The transfer market buzzes with the possibility of new acquisitions, potentially adding more firepower if Solskjaer has his way, and players may strive to impress their new manager.
The matchup signifies not only the past history and rivalry between these two clubs but also foreshadows the potential for future tactical shifts based on player performance and strategy execution. All eyes will certainly be on Istanbul as Besiktas seeks to solidify its stature on European soil against the formidable Athletic Bilbao. The stakes are high, and fans will be hoping for fireworks on the pitch this January evening.