Besiktas — Lausanne : Match Preview and Prediction for August 28,2025

Besiktas Squad & Tactical Concerns

Besiktas boasts a formidable squad, even by European standards, featuring talents like João Mário, Ndidi, Kökçü, Juresek, Tammy Abraham, along with recent additions Rafa Silva and Rıdvan Yılmaz from Rangers. However, under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, there’s a pronounced leaning towards attack, which often comes at the expense of team cohesion and defensive balance. This lack of synergy has resulted in the Black Eagles conceding in every one of their six matches this season.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and First Leg Analysis

Their vulnerability at home was evident in the European qualifiers, where they conceded two goals against Irish side St. Patrick’s (a 3-2 victory) and a staggering four goals against Shakhtar Donetsk in a previous Europa League qualifier (a 2-4 defeat). Besiktas’s overly aggressive attacking approach at home often leaves them exposed defensively. In the first leg in Lausanne, Solskjær’s men took an early lead, but Lausanne demonstrably created three times more significant scoring opportunities (1.60 xG compared to the Turks’ 0.50 xG), eventually leveling the score late in the game. It would be a grave error for Besiktas to underestimate their opponents in this return fixture. Young rotational forward Hemikoglu will be unavailable for the hosts against Lausanne.

Lausanne’s Cohesion and First Leg Performance

Peter Zeidler’s team certainly did not deserve to lose the first leg at home, making their late equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw a fair reflection of their performance. While Lausanne may not possess the same level of individual talent as Besiktas, their superior team cohesion and tactical discipline were clearly demonstrated in the initial encounter.

Offensive Prowess and Tactical Advantages

The White and Blues have maintained an impressive scoring record this season, finding the back of the net in all nine of their matches. Their aggressive 4-3-1-2 formation, coupled with intense pressing, consistently creates offensive opportunities, even if their defense isn’t always impregnable. Given Besiktas’s attacking inclination, Lausanne is likely to find ample space for counter-attacks, creating numerous chances to score. Sanchez and the young Manchester United loanee Kana-Biyik will be absent for Lausanne in this return fixture against Besiktas.