Beşiktaş hands Serbia’s Partizan heaviest European home defeat

BELGRADE

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Beşiktaş claimed its first Europe League group stage victory on Oct. 23, handing Serbia’s Partizan its heaviest European home defeat to date with a 4-0 drubbing.

Beşiktaş gained control of the Group C game at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade early, going ahead on 18 minutes with a 30-yard bullet from Veli Kavlak that found the top corner. After Gökhan Töre’s solo effort rebounded off the post, Demba Ba finished off a brilliant passing play with Oğuzhan Özyakup and Olcay Şahan just before the half-time whistle to give the Black Eagles a two-goal cushion before the interval.

The Turkish Super League leader did not change its approach after the interval, as Oğuzhan made it 3-0 from near the six-yard line at the 52th-minute mark. A few minutes later, Göhkan converted Ba’s through pass during a Beşiktaş break to close the scoring on the night.

“We dominated the game from start to finish and deserved to win,” Beşiktaş’s Croatian coach, Slaven Bilic, said after the game.

“Our traveling fans gave us a lot of boost tonight. Seeing them in the stands always lifts our spirits. We are on the right track, but if we let go of this momentum, then everything will go down the drain. This means we have to work harder,” he said.

With the victory, the Black Eagles share the lead with Tottenham, which won 5-1 against Greek side Asteras Tripolis in London in Group C, with three more matches to play. Beşiktaş will meet Partizan again in Istanbul on Nov. 6.  Partizan is moored to the foot of the table and has yet to score in this season’s group stage.