Beşiktaş faces Midtjylland in Vincenzo Italiano's official debut

Beşiktaş is set to kick off its official season under new head coach Vincenzo Italiano when they host Danish side Midtjylland in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie. The highly anticipated match will take place at the Tüpraş Stadium on Thursday evening, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 PM local time.

Italiano, who signed a two-year contract in June, will make his official debut for the club, aiming to secure a positive result in front of the home supporters. Beşiktaş will be looking to advance in the competition, with a potential third qualifying round clash against the winner of the Tromsø (Norway) vs. Hradec Králové (Czechia) match.

The team faces several significant absences for this crucial fixture. New signing Leandro Trossard is not included in the UEFA squad list. Additionally, Felix Uduokhai is serving a suspension from last season, and Wilfred Ndidi is sidelined with a ligament injury to his ankle.

In their pre-season preparations, Beşiktaş played six friendly matches during their training camp in Slovakia, recording two wins, two draws, and two losses. The team scored six goals and conceded seven during this period. The club has submitted its UEFA squad list, which notably excludes Trossard, Uduokhai, and Ndidi.