Turkish side Besiktas will host Danish club FC Midtjylland in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round at Tupras Stadium on July 23, 2026.
The match marks the official debut of head coach Vincenzo Italiano.
This fixture represents Besiktas's 259th European match and their first competitive meeting against Danish opposition.
Italiano's squad enters the match following a summer restructuring, including high-profile signings like Bayern Munich goalkeeper Alexander Nubel and midfielder Orkun Kokcu.
Striker Leandro Trossard misses out due to post-World Cup leave.
Italiano noted during a pre-match press conference that the squad's preparations faced challenges because several players returned late from international duty.
However, he emphasized that the team was ready to execute their strategy against a physically demanding opponent.
"Which competition it will be, I do not know, but in every case we want to continue in Europe," said Italiano.
The Italian tactician explained that his coaching staff worked primarily with a four-player defensive setup during preseason to establish a clear tactical foundation.
"My staff and I are very excited because tomorrow we will play our first official match.
We will play our first game in a beautiful stadium and in a very special atmosphere," said Italiano.
Italiano also highlighted flexibility, adding that the team needed to adapt to different match scenarios while maintaining control.
"We want to create a Besiktas identity. We want to build a team that knows what it is doing on the field," said Italiano.
Among the younger players, Italiano singled out Ilhan Fakili for his composure during the preseason, where the midfielder scored two goals.
Midtjylland arrives in Istanbul relying on striker Franculino, who returned to form in pre-season friendlies following a four-month knee and muscle injury recovery.
The Danish side, managed by Mike Tullberg, recently added defender Rasmus Nissen Kristensen to its squad, balancing the departure of winger Aral Simsir and the absence of injured forward Junior Brumado.
Besiktas team captain Orkun Kokcu confirmed that the squad quickly adapted to the new tactical requests and was fully focused on securing an advantage before traveling to Denmark.
"Everyone is 100% ready. The important thing is to get a good result tomorrow," said Kokcu.
The opening leg kicks off in Istanbul at 20:00 CET, with the return leg scheduled to take place in Denmark.
