- Besiktas JK have been excellent in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026, winning 4 of their last 5 fixtures and their last 4 in a row.
- FK Zalgiris Kaunas have been more patchy and were thumped 5-0 by GNK Dinamo Zagreb in UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026.
- Both sides are 5-3-2 across their first 10 fixtures in all competitions, suggesting this match could be closer than the odds indicate.
Black Eagles soar in Europa League Qualification 2026
It is difficult to know how to judge this clash as there is a clash of styles that should see Besiktas as favourites for Thursday's tie if they can get Kaunas back on their heels and win the second balls early on.
Vincenzo Italiano has instilled an identity on this Besiktas side since taking charge on 6 June 2026, possessing the ball in a structured way, overloading the flanks and pressing aggressively to get it back. Zeljko Sopic took over at Zalgiris Kaunas on 29 June 2026 and they have kept a compact shape and have kept their eyes on their opponents since he arrived.
Besiktas are the much better of the two sides at the moment and after back-to-back home clean sheet victories, they are our best chance for this match. Kaunas are a baggy team that have a few moments of magic in them, but are not consistent enough to worry Besiktas for 90 minutes.
Kaunas could make it tough for their hosts
Backing Besiktas to win at 9/50 is tempting, but Zalgiris are 5/1, so there is surely an opportunity in the over 2.5 goals and both teams not to score markets which come in at 49/100 and 3/4, respectively.
It will take some time for Besiktas to get the better of their visitors and we are going for them to win a match in which the visitors will still be in the game. Besiktas JK have played 4 home games in all competitions, winning 3 and only losing 1 of those fixtures and conceding only 3 goals along the way.
FK Zalgiris Kaunas have been average away from home in all competitions, registering 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat and averaging just 0.75 goals per game whilst conceding 1.75 on average.
Kokcu can kill this game off
FK Zalgiris Kaunas have been all over the place, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 2 of their last 5 matches, which suggests that this will be an uphill battle for them from the off.
Besiktas JK beat FC Midtjylland 2-0 away from home in their opening UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 game before edging FC Hradec Kralove 1-0 away before beating them 1-0 at home in their most recent match. That suggests they have the defensive solidity to kill this tie off if they play well.
Orkun Kokcu is Besiktas' main threat and he can make the difference in this fixture if he can get on the end of one of his team's many counter-attacks after they win the ball back in transition. He has 2 goals in 4 appearances in UEFA Europa League Qualification 2026 and he gives Besiktas that extra edge in the centre of the park that this game could be decided by.
In their most recent 3 matches, Zalgiris were thumped 5-0 away by GNK Dinamo Zagreb in UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026, beat FC Hegelmann Litauen Kaunas 2-0 in A Lyga 2026 at home and were then beaten 2-1 at home by Dinamo. Those heavy losses to Dinamo point to a problem when the level goes up in European competition and we expect Besiktas to pick them off on Thursday.
