Celtic face Besiktas for the first time in their history in a Europa League group stage match on Thursday. The game at Celtic Park kicks off at 8pm, with the Scottish champions looking to end a run of four consecutive European defeats.
This is only the third time Celtic have been drawn against a Turkish opponent, having previously faced Fenerbahce twice in the 2015-16 Europa League group stage. Besiktas, who are unbeaten in their three group matches this season, have never played a Scottish club before. Their last trip to face a British side ended in a 4-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2019.
The Hoops' recent European form is a concern, with the four-match losing streak representing their worst run since a similar sequence in the Champions League in late 2017. The club's official website has launched a pre-match quiz for fans to test their knowledge of the Turkish opponents. Celtic's fixtures schedule shows a quick turnaround, with a Premiership match against Ross County following on Sunday.
Besiktas arrive in Glasgow in strong continental form, with two wins and a draw from their opening three group games. Their forward Junior Olaitan has been a creative force, providing three assists in the competition so far this season. That tally is the joint-highest of any player in this season's Europa League.
Celtic will be aiming to use their home advantage, where they have a strong domestic record this season. The club has encouraged supporters to follow the action via its official app and match centre for live updates. The final whistle on Thursday will signal the start of preparations for the weekend's league fixture.
