The backdrop: Istanbul
After the disappointing 3-3 draw against Viktoria Plzeň, Eintracht Frankfurt showed the right reaction at Holstein Kiel on Sunday to claim a fourth successive Bundesliga win. The Eagles’ second midweek fixture of the season takes them to Istanbul on Thursday (kick-off 21:00 CEST).
The reigning Turkish Cup winners lost 4-0 at AFC Ajax in their opening UEFA Europa League game and are currently third in the domestic Süper Lig. Historically, Besiktas have not fared well against German clubs, with 10 defeats from the last 13 matches against teams from the Bundesliga. They’ve lost each of the last four, conceding 15 goals in the process.
What’s more, the Black Eagles have lost 10 of their last 11 home games in Europe. Since a 2-1 success over Slovan Bratislava in November 2019, they’ve suffered six consecutive defeats on home soil. Thursday’s meeting is the first between the two clubs.
Besiktas Park: A cauldron in the heart of Istanbul
Besiktas Park, officially the Tüpraş Stadyumu or just Besiktas Stadium, is famous for its atmosphere and is one of the loudest football stadiums in the world. In fact, Besiktas hold the world record for the decibel count at a football match with 141 decibels – that’s comparable to the volume of an aircraft take-off. The club’s passionate supporters, known as the “Çarşı”, make every home game an electrifying experience, ensuring that Besiktas matches are notorious both nationally and internationally for their intensity and volume – a veritable cauldron.
However, the boys from Frankfurt know all about creating an impressive atmosphere, so goosebumps are pretty much guaranteed on the banks of the Bosphorus on Thursday night!
