Turkish giants Beşiktaş are set to begin their Europa League journey with a tough opening clash against Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday night.
Riding the momentum of a dramatic Süper Lig victory, the Black Eagles will look to ruffle Dutch feathers in Amsterdam.
Ajax, historically dominant in Europe, enters the fray on the back of a mixed Eredivisie start.
A 5-0 thrashing of Fortuna Sittard was followed by a disappointing draw with Go Ahead Eagles last weekend.
Despite their fifth-place Eredivisie finish last season – Ajax’s lowest in over two decades – they secured a Europa League spot through grueling qualification rounds.
The Dutch side dispatched Vojvodina, Panathinaikos and Jagiellonia Bialystok to make it to UEFA’s newly expanded 36-team phase.
For Beşiktaş, continental glory is now the aim under the watchful eye of head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a Champions League winner as a player with Barcelona.
His pedigree…
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