Besiktas vs Kauno Zalgiris - Live Stream
View the live stream and TV coverage details and live score for the 2026/2027 UEFA Europa League play-off Match - Besiktas vs Kauno Zalgiris.
Beşiktaş host Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris at Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off. Kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. local time, which is 6:00 p.m. CET (7:00 p.m. CEST) and 1:00 p.m. US Eastern Time. Vincenzo Italiano’s Beşiktaş enter as overwhelming favourites after defeating Hradec Králové 2-0 on aggregate and extending their run to four consecutive clean sheets in European qualifying, while they also opened their Süper Lig campaign with a 1-0 victory over Eyüpspor. Kauno Žalgiris dropped into the Europa League following a chastening 7-1 aggregate defeat by Dinamo Zagreb, although the Lithuanian side remain firmly involved in their domestic title race. With the return leg scheduled for August 27 in Kaunas, Beşiktaş will look to use their superior depth and home advantage to build a decisive first-leg lead.
How to watch Besiktas vs Kauno Zalgiris - UEFA Europa League play-off match
| Country / Region | Channel / Package / Streaming |
|---|---|
| Turkey | S Sport+ |
| Austria, Germany, Switzerland | Sportdigital FUSSBALL |
Team news
Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş reported no new injuries after the weekend victory over Eyüpspor. Kassoum Ouattara is available again after completing the suspension imposed following his red card in the first leg against Hradec Králové.
Emmanuel Agbadou and Tiago Djaló are expected to continue in central defence, while Salih Özcan currently appears to be preferred to Wilfred Ndidi in the holding-midfield position.
Italiano could hand competitive starts to several summer additions. Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and winger Leandro Trossard are expected to feature, while Dušan Vlahović provides another high-profile option in attack. However, Semih Kılıçsoy may initially retain the central-striker role.
Kauno Žalgiris
Kauno Žalgiris have no major reported injury or suspension concerns, giving Željko Sopić a nearly full squad for the trip to Istanbul.
The visitors could adjust their defensive structure following the heavy aggregate defeat by Dinamo Zagreb. Edvin Gertmonas Švedkauskas should start in goal, with Rokas Lekiatas and Sandro Tolordava among the defensive options.
Belgian winger Amine Benchaib, one of Kauno’s leading attacking performers this season, is expected to start on the left. Brazilian striker Renan Oliveira should lead the line, with Nicolas Kreković providing support from an advanced midfield position.
Predicted line-ups
- Beşiktaş (4-1-4-1): Nübel; Bulut, Tiago Djaló, Agbadou, Rıdvan Yılmaz; Salih Özcan; Černý, Olaitan, Orkun Kökçü, Trossard; Semih Kılıçsoy.
- Kauno Žalgiris (4-2-3-1): Švedkauskas; Kastrati, Tolordava, Hernández, Edokpolor; Karashima, Šilkva; Burba, Kreković, Benchaib; Renan Oliveira.