Besiktas Dominates Europa League Play-Off with Nübel’s Unbeaten Start

Besiktas did not just take a step towards the Europa League. They kicked the door open.

Vincenzo Italiano’s new-look side dismantled FK Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 in the first leg of their play-off tie, a professional, almost cold-blooded performance that leaves the Turkish giants within touching distance of the league phase of the 2026/27 competition.

The tone was set early.

Six minutes in, Hyeon-Gyu Oh struck, settling any nerves and reminding the visitors exactly where they were. Six minutes later, it was already a long way back for the Lithuanian club. Michael Amir Murillo arrived to make it 2-0 in the 12th minute, and from there Besiktas simply controlled the night. Orkun Kökcü added the third on 59 minutes, a goal that felt like the final stamp on a dominant display.

Yet the story of this start to the season is not the goals. It is the man who keeps them out.

Nübel the “wall” behind a flawless start

Alexander Nübel, still only weeks into his Besiktas career, is already the heartbeat of Italiano’s team. Against the side from Kaunas, the German goalkeeper made his sixth competitive appearance for the club. He has six clean sheets.

Six games. Zero goals conceded.

The Turkish press has fallen hard for him. “Nübel is a wall – he does not concede any goals,” wrote Hürriyet, hailing the summer signing. The paper spoke of a keeper who “has caused a stir with his performances in the black-and-white shirt,” and it is hard to argue.

This is the version of Nübel Bayern Munich never really saw. Under contract in Bavaria from 2020 to 2026, he never established himself there, managing just four competitive appearances for the record champions. His loan spell at Stuttgart restored his reputation. Besiktas now look like the club where he is turning that promise into authority.

With Nübel in goal, Besiktas have opened the season with six wins from six in all competitions, all without conceding. Italiano’s ideas are landing fast, and the team is responding with a blend of discipline and aggression that has quickly become their early-season trademark.

Heavy investment, instant impact

None of this has happened by accident. The club hierarchy has backed Italiano with serious money and big calls.

Besiktas have already spent just under €67 million on new players. Nübel arrived permanently from Bayern Munich in July for just under €6 million, a fee that already looks like a bargain. Around him, the squad has been reshaped with high-profile additions.

Kökcü, who had previously been on loan from Benfica, was tied down on a permanent deal worth €30 million, underlining how central he is to the project in Istanbul. Up front, the club pounced to bring in Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer from Juventus, a move that would have sounded fanciful not long ago. On the flanks, Leandro Trossard joined from Arsenal for €18 million, adding Premier League experience and creativity to the attacking mix.

The ambition is clear. Besiktas are not just trying to keep pace domestically; they are arming themselves to matter in Europe again.

One setback amid the surge

The win over Zalgiris was not without a cost. Trossard, one of the headline arrivals, picked up an injury during the match and had to leave the pitch early. For a side that has just found a powerful rhythm, losing a player of his profile is an unwelcome jolt.

But the machine keeps moving.

Before they can finish the job in Europe in next Thursday’s second leg, Besiktas head to Alanyaspor on matchday two of the Süper Lig. Six wins from six, no goals conceded, a squad rebuilt with major investment, and a coach whose ideas are already visible in every phase of play.

The question now is not whether this start is impressive. It is how long Besiktas can keep this level – and how far it can carry them, both at home and across Europe.