Besiktas look to set Standard

Besiktas JK and R. Standard de Liège enter this match with both teams having won once and lost once in Group B in what is proving to be the most competitive of groups.

Bucharest defeats
Besiktas began with a 3-1 home win against Athletic Club Bilbao, before losing 2-1 at FC Steaua Bucuresti, while Standard were also beaten at Steaua (2-0) before gaining an encouraging success against Parma FC (2-1). And, although the clubs have never met in UEFA club competitions, both teams also have a similar record when playing against other clubs from their opponent’s country.

Home comfort
Besiktas have played a Belgian club on one previous occasion and won the tie. In the 1996/97 UEFA Cup, Besiktas went to Brussels for a first round tie and drew 0-0 with Brussels club RWD Molenbeek. In the return leg at Istanbul, Besiktas won 3-0 with goals from Ertugrul Saglam (40 minutes), Daniel Amokachi (50) and Oktay Derelioglu (87) for an aggregate win of the same margin. Besiktas went through to the third round where they were beaten by Valencia CF.

Claessen double
Similarly, Standard have played a Turkish club on one occasion and also won the tie. In the 1967/68 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Standard went to Izmir to play Altay GK in the first round and won 3-2, after two late goals from Roger Claessen had decided the issue. With the cushion of that away win, the second leg at Liège was drawn 0-0 for Standard to progress through 3-2 on aggregate. The Belgian side went as far as the quarter-finals where they lost to eventual winners AC Milan.