17 Sept 2026

Beşiktaş 4-1 Marseille: Olaitan runs the show in Europa League opener

Beşiktaş began their UEFA Europa League 26/27 journey with a statement 4-1 home win over Olympique de Marseille at Tüpraş Stadyumu in Istanbul. A fast start, a ruthless second half and a creator-in-chief named Junior Olaitan did the heavy lifting in a game where the hosts paired control with punch.

The visitors were brave and had their moments, yet Beşiktaş’s superior shot quality and cleaner final-third work decided it. From xG to touches in the box, most arrows pointed the same way. You can revisit every chance, rating and timeline on the Sofascore match page, and follow the wider competition picture on the UEFA Europa League hub.

Fast start, quick reply

Beşiktaş set the tone early. At 15 minutes, İlhan Fakılı arrived in the box to finish a neat move sparked by Junior Olaitan’s incisive pass, a sequence that signalled how the hosts wanted to play. Marseille answered on 29 minutes through Keyliane Abdallah, who bent his run and slotted inside the right corner after a well-timed Himad Abdelli pass. The half ended 1-1, but the underlying numbers had already tilted toward the home side.

In the first half Beşiktaş held 63% possession and produced 1.49 xG to Marseille’s 0.61. Both teams registered eight shots and two on target before the break, though Beşiktaş worked better positions with six efforts inside the box to Marseille’s two. The hosts also won the ground-duel battle 56% to 44%, and completed 279 accurate passes to 148, signs of control that would pay off later.

Beşiktaş tilt the field after the break

The restart brought a clinical spell. On 56 minutes, Václav Černý ghosted into space and finished low after Orkun Kökçü threaded the final ball, a move that came from a sharp throw-in-to-switch pattern. Three minutes later Amir Murillo made it 3-1 with a thumping header from a Kökçü corner, the delivery landing perfectly for the defender to guide into the far corner.

With Marseille pushing, Beşiktaş found room to finish the job. Substitute Ernest Poku converted in the 81st minute, guided in by another clever Junior Olaitan assist. The second half split read 10-6 in shots, 5-1 on target and 0.79-0.33 in xG in Beşiktaş’s favour, even with Marseille’s 55% possession after the interval. Cards were sparse, with Amine Harit booked on 72 minutes and a late caution for Fabio Miretti, while Andrea Colombo oversaw a game that flowed. Vincenzo Italiano’s in-game tweaks, including Tiago Djaló at the break and Poku on at 71, landed perfectly. Bruno Genesio’s subs lifted Marseille’s control of the ball, but not their shot quality.

Numbers that tell the story

Across 90 minutes Beşiktaş led ball possession 54% to 46%, posted 18 shots to 14 and a 7-3 edge in shots on target. The xG gap, 2.29 to 0.94, mirrored what we saw, and big chances finished 3-1 to the hosts. Even more telling, shots inside the box landed 13-6 for Beşiktaş and touches in the opposition area were 31-22, a steady platform for a multi-goal win.

The home side also executed the final third better, logging 84 of 115 actions at 73% success against Marseille’s 74 of 104 at 71%. Long balls were a useful release valve, 30/54 versus 14/32, and while crosses were low-volume, Beşiktaş were slightly more efficient, 3/11 to 2/11. Duels were nearly even at 51% to 49% for the hosts, with an aerial edge of 56% to 44%. Marseille did lead interceptions 18-8 and clearances 17-16, a nod to how much defending they had to do. In goal, Alexander Nübel posted +0.03 goals prevented, while Jeffrey De Lange finished at -0.56, a tough night given the quality he faced.

Standout performers for both sides

Several Beşiktaş players delivered strong shifts. Václav Černý scored and worked hard off the ball, earning a 7.9 Sofascore Rating with two tackles won and constant vertical running. İlhan Fakılı’s 7.7 reflected a composed opener, three total shots and even a brush with the woodwork. Amir Murillo also hit 7.7, impacting both boxes and heading in the crucial third goal from a corner routine.

Captain Orkun Kökçü printed his signature on the second half, assisting twice, supplying three key passes and surviving one big-chance miss to tally a 7.5. Dušan Vlahović’s 7.2 came from connective play, two key passes and four shots that stretched Marseille’s back line. For the visitors, Keyliane Abdallah’s all-action equaliser earned a 7.4 with four shots and dangerous carries, while Neal Maupay worked the channels for a 7.1. Angel Gomes offered tidy phases before coming off, and Amine Harit drew attention with carries even if the end product did not follow.

MVP spotlight: Junior Olaitan pulls the strings

Junior Olaitan was the hub of almost everything Beşiktaş created. He topped the pitch with an 8.5 Sofascore Rating, produced two assists and crafted two big chances, the kind of output that bends a knockout-level game in group play. His expected assists stood at 0.60, supported by three key passes and a steady 36/44 passing clip, most of it in the opposition half. When he did not pass, he carried with purpose, advancing play nearly 80 meters off the dribble and winning eight duels, including three in the air.

There was industry to match the flair. He won a tackle, drew three fouls and kept asking for the ball, 59 touches in 82 minutes before a late change. The pass-and-move link with Kökçü and Fakılı repeatedly opened Marseille’s right channel, and his late assist to Ernest Poku was a cool, simple choice that sealed a convincing win. On a night with multiple strong Beşiktaş showings, Olaitan was the clearest difference maker.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, the top performer was Junior Olaitan with an 8.5. Fans agreed, voting Junior Olaitan as their pick with 1296 of 1968 total votes. When the numbers and the crowd align, you usually have your headline act.