UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round: Beşiktaş - Shakhtar Donetsk

Beşiktaş played its first official match of the 2025–2026 season against Shakhtar Donetsk in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. The black and white team left the field with a 4–2 defeat at the Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul and must now rely on the return leg on 31 July to keep its hopes alive. This match marked Shakhtar Donetsk’s first official encounter against Beşiktaş under manager Arda Turan, while new signing Tammy Abraham scored his first goal for Beşiktaş in his debut appearance.

Beşiktaş - Shakhtar Donetsk First Leg of the Second Qualifying Round (Anadolu Ajansı)

Preparation Period

In the pre-season, Beşiktaş played four friendly matches during their training camp in Austria. The black and white side secured a 2–0 away win against Austrian side St. Pölten and drew 1–1 with Admira Wacker. In their third match they lost 3–2 to Wolfsberger and suffered a 2–1 defeat against Slovakian team Petrzalka 1898 on the final day of camp. Over the four matches Beşiktaş scored six goals and conceded the same number. This preparation phase served as a period for testing new tactical systems under head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and implementing physical conditioning.

Beşiktaş Training Camp in Austria (Anadolu Ajansı)

Technical Staff Squad Selection and Status of New Signings

Emrecan Uzunhan Bahtiyar Zaynutdinov Jean Onana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were not included in the UEFA-submitted squad list. David Jurasek on loan from Benfica Orkun Kökçü and Tammy Abraham on temporary transfer from Roma made their official debuts for Beşiktaş against Shakhtar Donetsk under the guidance of head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Tammy Abraham opened his Beşiktaş career with a penalty goal in this match marking a strong individual start to the season. However he was forced off in the second half due to an injury sustained during the game.

Match Progression and Key Moments

Shakhtar Donetsk started strongly and took the lead in the 7th minute through a shot from outside the penalty area by Alisson Santana. The ball deflected off Felix Uduokhai and found the net. In the 28th minute Eguinaldo headed home from Santana’s cross to double the lead. Beşiktaş reduced the deficit in the 39th minute when Tammy Abraham converted a penalty to make it 2–1. The first half ended 2–1 in favor of Shakhtar Donetsk.

Shakhtar continued their attacking momentum in the second half and scored their third goal in the 67th minute through Kevin. In the 87th minute Joao Mario completed a rebound after Rafa Silva’s shot to bring Beşiktaş’s score to 3–2. However in stoppage time Kevin scored again to seal a 4–2 victory for Shakhtar Donetsk. With this result Shakhtar secured a significant advantage ahead of the return leg.

Beşiktaş - Shakhtar Donetsk First Leg of the Second Qualifying Round (Anadolu Ajansı)

Tribune Atmosphere and Fan Reaction

Beşiktaş returned to the stands after a 59-day absence. At the start of the match fans dissatisfied with the team’s performance voiced their discontent with chants of “This is a shame for this fanbase.” After the first half however players were called to the stands and received support from the crowd. In the latter stages of the match chants in favor of Sergen Yalçın emerged and after the fourth goal some fans left the stadium. At full time the team was protested by sections of the supporters.

Statistical Data and Historical Records

This match was Beşiktaş’s 253rd appearance in European competitions. In their previous 252 matches the black and white side recorded 95 wins 49 draws and 108 defeats. They have scored 338 goals and conceded 384 in these matches. In the UEFA Europa League and its predecessor the UEFA Cup Beşiktaş has now played 132 matches.

Shakhtar Donetsk has never lost to Turkish teams in European competition having played nine matches against them with eight wins and one draw. They have scored 20 goals and conceded only two in those encounters.

Return Leg History and Second Leg Fixture

The return leg between Beşiktaş and Shakhtar Donetsk will be played on Thursday 31 July 2025 at the Stadion Kraków-Raków in Kraków Poland. The match will kick off at 21:00. For the black and white team to advance they must win by at least three goals or secure a result that forces extra time in the return fixture.

UEFA Europa League 2025–2026 Season Second Qualifying Round Return Leg

In the second qualifying round return leg of the UEFA Europa League 2025–2026 season, Beşiktaş traveled to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk. Having lost 4–2 at home in Istanbul in the first leg, the black-and-white team suffered a further 2–0 defeat in the return match and was eliminated from the competition. With an aggregate score of 6–2, Shakhtar Donetsk advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, while Beşiktaş earned the right to continue in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Beşiktaş-Shakhtar Donetsk Return Leg (AA)

Stadium and Referees

The match was played at the Ryszard Kaczmarek Stadium in Kraków, Poland. It was officiated by Spanish referee Juan Martínez Munuera, with assistant referees Diego Barbero and Miguel Martínez.

First Half

Shakhtar Donetsk started the match strongly. In the 6th minute, Kaua Elias connected with a pass from Alisson inside the penalty area, dribbled past Mert Günok and shot toward the empty net, but Uduokhai made a last-ditch intervention to block the goal.

In the 12th minute, Shakhtar took the lead. After a misplaced pass by Demir Ege Tıknaz in midfield, Kevin Macedo intercepted the ball and drove forward from the left flank into the penalty area, firing a shot into the net.

In the 13th minute, following a turnover by Emirhan Topçu, Alisson attempted to beat Mert Günok but the goalkeeper successfully defended the position.

In the 45+2nd minute, the lead was doubled. Vinicius Tobias cut inside from the right flank and laid the ball into the penalty area; Elias, tracking the play well, delivered a precise shot to make it 2–0.

Beşiktaş-Shakhtar Donetsk Return Leg (AA)

Second Half

Beşiktaş began the second half with substitutions, but the changes did not alter the control of the game. Shakhtar Donetsk maintained dominance over possession and continued to dictate the tempo. In the 56th minute, a powerful left-crossed shot from Alisson narrowly went wide of the target. In the 72nd minute, Traore attempted a finish after receiving a pass from Newertton on the left flank, but his shot struck the outside of the post and went out of play.

Beşiktaş struggled to create attacking opportunities in the second half. Midfield turnovers repeatedly hampered their progress toward the opponent’s goal. Shakhtar Donetsk, meanwhile, exploited the flanks to generate chances and effectively launched counterattacks by stretching Beşiktaş’s defense.

Teams and Lineups

Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk – Vinicius Tobias (81' Gocholeishvili), Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedro Henrique – Marlon (57' Newertton), Alisson Santana, Ocheretko, Pedrinho (64' Sudakov) – Kevin (57' Bondarenko), Kaua Elias (64' Traore)

Beşiktaş: Mert Günok – Svensson, Paulista, Uduokhai, Emirhan Topçu – Demir Ege Tıknaz (46' Hadziahmetovic), Kartal Kayra Yılmaz (78' Tayfur Bingöl), Rafa Silva, Joao Mario (88' Necip Uysal), Muçi (88' Jurasek) – Abraham (64' Semih Kılıçsoy)

Upcoming Fixtures

Following this defeat, Beşiktaş was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League and qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they will face Irish representatives St. Patrick’s Athletic. The matches are scheduled for 7 and 14 August 2025.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk has been drawn against Greek side Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.