Bodo/Glimt seek to continue their commendable record against Besiktas in Thursday's Europa League matchday six encounter at Aspmyra Stadion.
With three games remaining in the expanded league phase, both sides sit outside the top eight spots guaranteeing last-16 participation but hope to improve their prospects by securing a positive result in the forthcoming fixture.
Match preview
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Glimt started their Europa League campaign securing seven points from nine, but consecutive losses in matchdays four and five leave them 17th in the standings.
Kjetil Knutsen's men aim to bounce back from defeats by Qarabag (1-2) and Manchester United (2-3) despite giving Ruben Amorim's men a fright at Old Trafford a fortnight back.
Keen to take positives from that performance in Manchester, the Super Team enter this week's match knowing their impressive record against their Turkish opponents, winning two and drawing one of four previous encounters.
However, the club's wider record against opponents from Turkey leaves much to be desired, having lost 50% of six of such match-ups.
Their Europa League record heading into their sixth game in the competition this term adds to that pessimism due to suffering six losses in nine previous fixtures in Europe's second-tier club tournament, even if fans will point to their inclination to score in four consecutive continental outings.
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Despite an inferior record against Thursday's opponents, Besiktas aim to inflict the Norwegian outfit's third consecutive Europa League reverse to secure a second win under Serdar Topraktepe.
Topraktepe replaced former Barcelona and Arsenal defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst on November 30 after a series of disappointing results, including a 3-1 home defeat by Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv on the previous matchday, the latter's first victory in this year's competition.
The Black Eagles played out a 1-1 draw in Topraktepe's first game against Hatayspor before notching a hard-fought 1-0 success over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce last weekend, giving the Super Lig side much-needed confidence before the forthcoming encounter.
Although Besiktas (six points) sit 22nd in the 36-team competition, only one point separates Kara Kartallar from Bodo/Glimt in 17th, and success will see them leapfrog matchday six's hosts.
Having won their previous road game by beating Lyon (1-0), Besiktas chase consecutive away wins on the continent for the first time since 2012 — when they notched victories at Maccabi Tel Aviv and Braga — a feat the Black Eagles hope to emulate with Topraktepe.
Team News
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Bodo/Glimt are without the services of the injured quartet: Gaute Vetti (ankle), Samuel Burakovsky (groin), Syver Skeide (knee) and Daniel Bassi (thigh).
Jens Petter Hauge and Patrick Berg aim to add to their three goal contributions in the league phase, keen to prevent the away side from leapfrogging them in the standings.
Arthur Masuaku's yellow card in Besiktas' matchday five loss, his third in five games, means he will serve a suspension on Thursday.
Tayyip Talha Sanuc will be assessed after going off injured at the weekend against Fenerbahce, while the injured Felix Uduokhai (ankle), Gabriel Paulista (hamstring) and ineligible Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Necip Uysal are not expected to play any part.
With no player scoring or assisting more than one this term, the away side hope Ernest Muci, Rafa Silva and Semih Kilicsoy (one goal, one assist) add to their two direct goal involvements.
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Khaikin; Wembangomo, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Hauge, Hogh, Zinckernagel
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Svensson, Zaynutdinov, Topcu, Terzi; Al-Musrati, Fernandes; Rashica, Muci, Silva; Kilicsoy
We say: Bodo/Glimt 1-1 Besiktas
After losing the previous Europa League fixture under old boss Van Bronckhorst, Besiktas will be eager to prove their progress under the new regime. While a win would be ideal, securing a draw on the road against Bodo/Glimt would be a respectable result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
