Süper Lig, Sunday, 18.08.2024 at 20:45
It has been a horrific season for Besiktas, which came to an end a few months ago. One thing has been clear since then: 2024/25 can only get better! A good start would go some way to reconciling the fans.
The first home game is coming up and the Black Eagles are clear favorites.
But be careful: at home against this opponent, that’s not without its problems! In my Besiktas Antalyaspor tip, I’ll tell you what it’s all about and why I’m backing a 2-0 handicap for the visitors for precisely this reason
I’ll save myself the trouble of looking at the final table for 2023/24 and simply say: Besiktas fell miles short of their own expectations and will therefore not even play internationally.
So far so good, hopefully the fans have already digested the shockingly poor results, just as well as the players. After all: no European Cup, which also means no double burden in the form of qualifications etc.
A new coach has already been found in Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who will have to make up for the departures of Cenk Tosun and Valentin Rosier. The Eagles have spent money to upgrade compared to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Moatesem Al-Musrati from Braga is the king transfer, while Rafa and Gabriel Paulista, two players with international experience, arrived for no transfer fee. All in all, that was enough to win the season opener.
The team won 2:0 at Samsunspor, with both goals coming before the break. And lo and behold, who scored the goals? The aforementioned new signings Paulista and Rafa!
This is the ideal way to fit into a new team, and now the fans want to give their two newcomers a fitting welcome. Although I have to interject here and say: Besiktas have already played in the national Supercup
The fans would love to watch the 5:0 gala against Galatasaray every day anew, because another superstar I haven’t even mentioned yet scored: Ciro Immobile!
There’s no question that these names make it clear that Gala and Fenerbahce are about to be attacked. Two defeats in the last eleven matches against Antalyaspor? The most recent direct comparison against the next opponent reads well
But, dear Besiktas fans: I have to take a closer look. On the one hand, because they’ve only won two of their last seven games. On the other hand, because a home game against this rival is not even that advantageous.
1:2, 0:0, 0:0, 1:1, 1:2, 2:3 – if I look for the last home win against Antalyaspor, I’ll find it in August 2017! It’s been a long time, but at least it could be a good omen that the month is identical
Our bookmakers obviously don’t have a direct comparison, as they see Besiktas clearly ahead with odds of 1.40 to 7.70.
Antalyaspor did not necessarily give the impression in their first game of the season that they could keep up with Besiktas’ offense. The result: a 0:0 draw against Göztepe, the newly promoted team.
The Whites were unable to take advantage of their superiority, but at least they kept a clean sheet. Alex, the new coach from Brazil, who has been in charge since the end of May, is tasked with securing the team’s survival in the league
No big-name additions have been made, so the team that finished tenth in the previous season know that some of their rivals will once again be considered stronger in 2024/25. The players certainly know how important a good start to the season is.
A year ago, the first three-pointer came on matchday six, with only two of the first nine games ending in victory. They won four times away from home, three of which resulted in relegation. The fourth? That was Besiktas!
How strong is Besiktas’ squad, will it be enough to fight for the championship? The start was extremely promising, the new signings are making an impact and the mood is brilliant.
The first home game of the new season should of course end successfully. Surely Antalyaspor can be beaten? Absolutely, but the Eagles have been waiting for a home win against this opponent for over seven years!
Since a first home game always means a certain amount of pressure, I can well imagine that the favorites will have a relatively difficult time. That’s exactly why I’ve decided on the following tip:
Antalyaspor “win” by a 2:0 handicap!
