“Not an Easy Match”: Beşiktaş Must Stay Controlled Against Marseille
Merih Onal assessed Beşiktaş’s upcoming UEFA Europa League encounter with Marseille, warning that the match should not be viewed as a comfortable opportunity despite the French side’s recent difficulties. Although playing at home gives the black-and-white team a significant advantage, Onal believes Beşiktaş will need a disciplined and tactically mature performance to secure a positive result.
The match is scheduled for September 17, 2026, and expectations among Beşiktaş supporters are high. However, Onal stressed that Marseille’s recent form should not lead to excessive optimism. The French club may have struggled to achieve consistent results lately, but that does not mean the team has lost its athletic quality or ability to create problems in transition.
Home Advantage Could Be Decisive
According to Onal, Beşiktaş’s biggest advantage will be the venue. Playing in front of its own supporters can provide the team with additional energy, especially during difficult periods of the game. The atmosphere may help Beşiktaş maintain pressure and recover mentally if Marseille takes control at certain moments.
Nevertheless, home advantage alone will not be enough. Beşiktaş must combine the support from the stands with a well-organized game plan. An overly emotional approach could create gaps between the lines and give Marseille opportunities to exploit space behind the defense.
Onal underlined that the match should not be approached as though Beşiktaş were guaranteed a comfortable victory. Even if the opponent appears vulnerable on paper, European matches often develop differently from domestic fixtures. Marseille’s individual quality, physical strength and experience could become decisive if Beşiktaş loses its structure.
Defensive Stability Must Come First
The main recommendation from Onal was clear: Beşiktaş should first prevent Marseille from playing effectively before focusing entirely on scoring. Rather than beginning the match with an aggressive, uncontrolled attacking strategy, the home side needs to establish defensive balance.
He pointed to Beşiktaş’s performance against Midtjylland as the level the team should aim to reproduce. That display demonstrated the importance of compact positioning, coordinated pressing and concentration without the ball. Against Marseille, similar discipline will be required from the first whistle.
Onal warned that an approach based solely on attacking and searching for an early goal could expose Beşiktaş to serious danger. If the team pushes forward in an unbalanced manner, Marseille may respond quickly through counterattacks. The French side is capable of using open spaces efficiently, particularly when its opponents commit too many players to the final third.
Patience Could Shape the Result
Beşiktaş may need to remain patient, especially if Marseille chooses to defend compactly and wait for transition opportunities. A goalless first half would not necessarily represent a failure for the home team. Maintaining control and avoiding unnecessary risks could be more valuable than forcing attacks at every opportunity.
The midfield battle is likely to be particularly important. Beşiktaş will need players who can protect the defense, win second balls and move possession forward without rushing. Losing control in the center of the pitch could allow Marseille to dictate the tempo and create repeated attacks.
At the same time, Beşiktaş must avoid becoming too passive. A controlled game does not mean retreating completely. The team should press selectively, choose the right moments to accelerate and ensure that its attacking players receive sufficient support.
Concerns Over Missing Players
Possible absences may also influence the tactical plan. Some supporters expressed concern that Trossard and Orkun could be unavailable. If either player misses the game, Beşiktaş may lose quality in the final pass, ball progression and attacking decision-making.
Trossard’s potential absence would particularly affect the team’s final-third efficiency. His ability to operate between the lines, combine with forwards and produce decisive actions could be difficult to replace. Beşiktaş may therefore need to rely more heavily on coordinated movement and collective attacking patterns rather than individual brilliance.
If Orkun is unavailable, the midfield could lose balance and creativity. In that case, the remaining midfielders would have to compensate by improving their defensive coverage and maintaining a faster circulation of the ball.
Marseille’s League Form Should Not Be the Only Measure
Several observations emphasized that Marseille’s domestic results should not be treated as the definitive indicator of its strength. A team can struggle in the league while still producing a completely different performance in a European competition.
Marseille is described as an athletic side capable of playing with intensity. Its players can press aggressively, compete for physical duels and attack quickly after regaining possession. Beşiktaş must therefore be prepared for a match that may become physically demanding from the opening minutes.
The French team could also deliberately wait for Beşiktaş to overcommit. By inviting pressure and then attacking the spaces left behind, Marseille may attempt to turn the match into a series of fast transitions. Defensive positioning after losing the ball will be just as important as the quality of Beşiktaş’s attacks.
Transfer Needs Remain on the Agenda
Supporters also raised broader concerns about the squad. Some believe Beşiktaş should make efforts during the winter transfer window to sign Willock, while additional reinforcements at left center-back and on the right wing are considered necessary.
These positions could become especially important in a demanding season involving domestic and European fixtures. A stronger squad would give the coaching staff more options for rotation and reduce the impact of injuries or suspensions.
However, transfer discussions should not distract the team before the Marseille match. The immediate priority is to use the available squad effectively, protect defensive stability and ensure that every player understands his role.
The Role of the Supporters
The home crowd may have a major influence on the atmosphere and rhythm of the match. Beşiktaş supporters are expected to create strong pressure from the stands, but that energy must help the players remain focused rather than pushing them into unnecessary haste.
A positive reaction to difficult moments could be crucial. If Marseille enjoys a period of possession, the team will need encouragement and patience from the supporters. Constant pressure from the crowd can help Beşiktaş regain momentum, while impatience may increase the players’ tendency to take risky decisions.
The match is likely to be closely contested. Beşiktaş may have the advantage of playing at home, but Marseille’s athleticism, transition ability and European experience mean that no comfortable scoreline can be assumed in advance.
Ultimately, Beşiktaş’s path to victory will depend on balance. The team must defend collectively, control the midfield, prevent dangerous counterattacks and choose the right moments to increase the tempo. Scoring will naturally be important, but the first objective should be to avoid giving Marseille easy opportunities.
Onal’s message is therefore straightforward: this is not a match to approach with excessive confidence or uncontrolled attacking ambition. If Beşiktaş can reproduce the disciplined aspects of its Midtjylland performance while using its home advantage effectively, it will have a strong chance of obtaining a favorable result.