Besiktas edge Hradec Kralove to book Europa League playoff berth

09:26, 14/08/2026, FridayU: Update: 09:28, 14/08/2026, Friday

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Besiktas edge Hradec Kralove to book Europa League playoff berth

Besiktas player Leandro Trossard (19) in action during the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round second-leg match between Besiktas and Hradec Kralove at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 13, 2026.

A solitary strike from Vaclav Cerny secured a 1-0 home victory for the Black Eagles, completing a commanding 2-0 aggregate win. The Turkish giants now face Kauno Zalgiris for a place in the league phase, extending their impressive defensive run in European qualifiers.

Besiktas secured their passage to the UEFA Europa League playoff round with a disciplined 1-0 triumph over Czech outfit Hradec Kralove at Istanbul's Vodafone Park on Thursday evening. The result sealed a comfortable 2-0 aggregate success for the Süper Lig powerhouse, who maintained their flawless defensive record throughout the qualifying campaign. The Black Eagles controlled the tempo from the outset, with Orkun Kokcu rattling the crossbar from distance in the 26th minute after an earlier chance saw Amir Murillo just fail to connect with a free-kick delivery.

Cerny's Decisive Moment Breaks Deadlock

The deadlock was finally broken five minutes before the interval through a swift counterattacking move. Junior Olaitan initiated the play from deep inside Besiktas territory, releasing winger Vaclav Cerny who surged forward before calmly slotting past goalkeeper Adam Zadrazil in a one-on-one encounter. The Czech international's strike proved sufficient as the hosts carried a slender advantage into the break, with Hradec Kralove managing only a single shot on target during the opening period through Tom Sloncik's effort which was comfortably dealt with by Alexander Nubel.

Second-Half Control and Trossard Debut

The Black Eagles continued to dictate proceedings after the restart, with Oh Hyeon-gyu firing over before Cerny again found himself clean through only to be thwarted by the advancing Zadrazil. Besiktas enjoyed the lion's share of possession but couldn't add to their tally despite crafting multiple openings. The match marked a significant moment for new signing Leandro Trossard, who entered the fray as a 66th-minute substitute to make his competitive debut for the Istanbul giants. The Belgian international nearly crowned his first appearance with a goal in the 86th minute, but Zadrazil was equal to his right-footed strike from close range.

Defensive Resilience and Playoff Opposition

Besiktas' backline deserves immense credit for registering their fourth consecutive clean sheet in European qualifying this season, underscoring their defensive solidity under pressure. The Turkish representatives will now turn their attention to Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris in the playoff round, with a coveted spot in the league phase hanging in the balance. The two-legged tie is scheduled to commence on August 20, with the return fixture following a week later on August 27. Meanwhile, Thursday's other results saw Omonia, U Craiova, and Anderlecht among the teams progressing, while Trabzonspor were confirmed to face Ferencvaros in a separate playoff showdown.

- Thursday’s results

Omonia 1 – 0 L. Red Imps (Omonia advance 2-1 on aggregate)

U. Craiova 2 – 1 KuPS Kuopio (Craiova advance 3-2 on aggregate)

Besiktas 1 – 0 Hradec Kralove (Besiktas advance 2-0 on aggregate)

Pafos 3 – 3 Salzburg (Salzburg advance 4-3 on aggregate)

Gornik Zabrze 1 – 1 Ferencvaros (Ferencvaros advance on 2-1 aggregate)

Vikingur R. 3 – 2 Thun (Thun advance 5-3 on aggregate)

CSKA Sofia 1 – 3 M. Tel Aviv (CSKA advance 4-3 on aggregate)

Rangers 1 – 1 Jagiellonia (Jagiellonia advance 3-2 on aggregate)

Anderlecht 3 – 2 PAOK (Anderlecht advance 4-2 on aggregate)

Hearts 1 – 1 Benfica (Benfica advance 7-2 on aggregate)

Egnatia 5 – 1 Shamrock Rovers (Egnatia advance 6-4 on aggregate)