Besiktas

Manchester United V Besiktas

Wednesday 25^th November – 19:45 GMT

Group B

Manchester United

Group B Position: 1^st

Group B Form: WWWD

Were United to have won in their very last outing, a 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford, then the Red Devils would not only have been safely through but they would have also all but secured a top place finish with two games still left to play. However, that wasn’t the case and the point they did earn did at least earn them progression into the very next stage of the competition which doesn’t take place into well after Christmas. Now the focus will turn towards winning the group itself, something which does tend to come with an easy or an easier opponent when it comes to the draw for the last sixteen.

We are still unsure as to how Alex Ferguson will set up his side on Wednesday night, nor who will actually start. However, we expect a few of the United fringe players to play a big part in this game, what with United already through and their opponents being a very weak Besiktas side from Turkey. With this, Michael Owen could boost his England chances with a rare start, although, the England hopeful did start United’s previous Champions League encounter at home to CSKA, of which he had very little impact on the game. Some of the youngsters; Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, new summer signing – Gabriel Obertan, and perhaps Federico Macheda, the wonder-kid of last season who has yet to reach the heights set from the previous campaign, although, we’ve not been a huge fan of him from day one, could all feature at some point against Besiktas. 

It will probably be a mixture of the United tag-a-longs and first team against the strongest possible side from Besiktas. If this is the case then we still expect United to run out relatively comfortable winners, although, we said something similar just before United took on CSKA a few weeks ago, and just look how that panned out. However, after watching the first meeting between the two, Besiktas really didn’t show an awful lot of quality, especially in the attacking third, an area where they clearly lacked that cutting edge. United, on the other hand, are more than accomplished at the back, although that has been too evident this season, while their ability in the final third should be far too much for the Besiktas back four to handle.

A win for United, nothing less is expected, then it would take them to the 13 point marker. Wolfsburg are their closest pursuers back in second but they are three points behind United and face a tough and awkward trip to a bitter cold Russia as they take on CSKA Moscow. If Wolfsburg fail to win and United do get the three points against the Turkish outfit then United would finish the group top, regardless of the results on Match Day 6, of which United travel to Germany to take on Wolfsburg.

Besiktas

Group B Position: 4^th

Group B Form: LDLL

The Turkish side do sit rock-bottom of Group B and only have a solitary point to their name, but they aren’t out of the running just yet, mathematically anyway. They would, however, need several results to go their way between now and the end of Match Day 6. For starters, they would need to win both their remaining two Group B fixtures – An away trip to Man Utd, followed by a home encounter with CSKA. We can’t see them earning the win they so desperately need at Old Trafford so we think it’s pretty safe to say that they are out, just not officially.

However, third place is still a real possibility but they could also be out of the hunt for a third position finish if CSKA beat Wolfsburg in Russia earlier in the day. Besiktas face CSKA at home in the final set of fixtures so they will be confident of getting a good result there, but firstly a point at Manchester United would not only aid them nicely but it would more than likely keep them in the hunt for a Europa League finish right up until the very end, baring a CSKA win in Russia. A win for the Russian’s and Besiktas will finish bottom, unless the United defence curls over and allows Besiktas to walk it into the net, on several occasions.

The end of the road is Nye for the only Turkish competitors still in the competition. Their form while in domestic action has been superb, winning their last seven in succession. However, they haven’t pushed on from their morale boosting league form and have failed to replicate some of their league form into their Champions League games. Their only point thus far came in a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg, in Germany, but that was aided by the fact that Wolfsburg were reduced to 10 men just after the interval. They have scored just the one goal in four outings, that coming in Russia against CSKA, while they’ve shipped an unpleasant 6 in return.

Besiktas shouldn’t be too short of motivation ahead of the trip to England, especially seeing as their last visit ended in complete and utter misery when they previously travelled to Anfield and left with a 9-0 spanking. Still, with that result to one side, Besiktas are still in that ‘got to win’ mindset and hopefully they can convert that thinking into a good performance at Old Trafford, although, a good performance may not be enough as they have to at least match CSKA’s result in Russia against Wolfsburg, or their fate within Europe could be settled a game too early.

Match Verdict:- Manchester United to WIN – 1.40 Bet365

We were made to look right mugs by Manchester United last time out, a ridiculous 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow, a team they worked so hard to beat 1-0 in Russia the game before. Fergie opted to rest most of his big guns, with Wayne Rooney not taking to the field until midway through the second half. Besiktas are a much poorer outfit then CSKA, we are sorry to say, and we fancy Fergie to do much of the same in terms of who starts for United. This is a good opportunity to rest the big names and give those who are desperate for some first team action a piece of the limelight. With this said, we still fancy the United second string to be too strong for a travelling Besiktas.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.40 Bet365

Draw – 4.50 SportingBet

Besiktas – 10.00 SKyBet

SoccerBetting Value Bet: Manchester United/Manchester United (Half-Time/Full-Time) – 2.00 PaddyPower

Besiktas V Manchester United

Kick-Off: Tuesday 15^th September – 19:45 GMT

Venue: BJK Inonu Stadium (Turkey)

An English side does tend to draw a Turkish opponent somewhere down the line in this compeition and now it’s Manchester United who have to face up to a hefty trip across Europe as they head over to Turkey where a hostile reception awaits them. Besiktas are the team preparing to take full advantage of the support from a feisty crowd but will the amount of home support they have help bridge the huge gulf in class between the two sets of players?

Manager Views

The Besiktas manager; Mustafa Denizli, is expecting his side to secure some sort of result against last years beaten finalists, but is he being a little too optimistic? Maybe not, as English sides haven’t always had things there own way when playing in Turkey, with Liverpool losing in this very same venue to this very same Turkish side just two seasons ago. Mustafa claimed that earning a result against one of the favourites of the entire competition would make his teams job of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the tournament a whole lot easier, although, he was also quick to mention that, really, teams should be aiming to secure all three points at home.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been coy about his sides chances of getting the win they need to set them up perfectly in Group B, but has been quick to dismiss that the loss of Christinao Ronaldo has left his team a lot weaker in terms of scoring goals and creativity. The Scot is expecting his youthful side to produce the goods when it really matters, starting with a tricky tie away in Turkey at Besiktas.

Respective Form & Absentee’s

Besiktas will still have nightmares over their last encounter with an English opponent, when they were hammered 8-0 at Anfield by Liverpool in 2006/2007. The Turkish side will also be aiming to bypass the group stage of the tournament for the first time in six attempts. However, Mustafa Denizli has no new fresh injury concerns but he does have somewhat of a rebuilding job on his hands after his squad lost in a convincing manner at the weekend to bitter rivals Galatasaray, 3-0.

Manchester United come into this fixture full of confidence after securing their third win on the spin at the weekend. United shown their resilience on Sunday by beating an inform Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at White Hart Lane, despite being reduced to 10 men midway through the second half. That was United’s third win in succession after victories over Arsenal & Wigan Athletic.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson is still without first choice goalkeeper; Edwin Van Der Sar, veteran full-back Gary Neville & new signing Gabriel Obertan is still unavailable and he has yet to make his competitive début for the ‘Red Devils’. Owen Hargreaves is still out of action and will be for some time to come.

Game Plans

Turkish teams aren’t known for their brilliant defensive displays so we expect Besiktas to attack United’s defence from the off in a bid to knick an early goal. With the roar of a capacity home crowd urging their side forward, Besiktas will be under some pressure to make the early breakthrough but an early strike for United could quickly see their loyal and expectant fans turn very hostile.

It’s hard to predict what sort of formation Sir Alex Ferguson will go with for this clash with last seasons Turkish Super League winners. We expect United to be very compact in midfield with probably both Darren Fletcher and Anderson anchoring the United backbone. Dimitar Berbatov hasn’t made the best of starts in his second season with the ‘Red Devils’s, but the Bulgarian looks set for a starting berth at the forefront of United’s attack, while Wayne Rooney, United’s most influential player right now, will play just off Berbatov. Rio Ferdinand might make his return from injury and feature at some point tonight but we aren’t too sure if Sir Alex will risk the England centre-half as United face a Manchester derby at the weekend.

Betting Market

Manchester United’s superb league form has made them clear favourites to win in Istanbul, although, what with United facing a Manchester Derby on Sunday, will the United players have one eye on that weekend fixture and bottle out of any harsh tackles? We wouldn’t like to think so as Sir Alex Ferguson will be desperate to make a winning start in the Champions League and we fancy United to grind out a narrow but vital win at Besiktas.

Betting Odds:

Besiktas – 13/2 BetFred

Manchester United – 8/15 PaddyPower

Draw – 31/10 SportingBet

SoccerBetting Tip: Manchester United to WIN – 8/15 PaddyPower