Celtic’s troubled European campaign faces another severe examination on Thursday evening when unbeaten Besiktas arrive in Glasgow. Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Celtic v Beşiktaş, which has been placed with Bet365.
J. Olaitan - To Score or Assist
Player Assists
Besiktas arrive at Celtic Park with a strong attacking record, having scored 14 goals in their last seven matches. Junior Olaitan has been influential in their offensive play, contributing directly to goals in three of his last five games. Given Celtic’s defensive vulnerabilities and the importance of this fixture, Olaitan’s involvement in scoring or assisting seems plausible, making this player prop an integral part of the overall game narrative.
V. Sinisalo - 3+ Saves
Goalkeeper Saves
Celtic’s goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo is likely to face significant pressure against a Besiktas side averaging nearly five shots on target per game. Celtic’s recent defensive struggles suggest Sinisalo will be busy, and his recent form supports the expectation of at least three saves. This leg complements the attacking outlook by acknowledging the defensive demands on Celtic’s keeper in a potentially open and high-scoring encounter.
BTTS Yes
Both Teams To Score
Both teams scoring aligns naturally with the attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses of Celtic and Besiktas. Celtic’s home matches have seen frequent goals at both ends, while Besiktas also maintain a strong scoring record. This market fits cohesively with the player and goalkeeper props, reflecting an open game where both sides are expected to find the net.
Over 2.5 Goals
Goals Total
The expectation of over 2.5 goals is supported by the offensive capabilities of both teams and Celtic’s recent concession of multiple goals. Besiktas’ average of 2.4 goals per game and Celtic’s tendency for high-scoring matches suggest a lively contest. This market ties together the narrative of an open game with multiple goal-scoring opportunities and defensive challenges for both sides.
Martin O’Neill’s side sit near the bottom of the Europa League standings, having suffered three consecutive league-phase defeats while leaking goals at an alarming rate. In contrast, Vincenzo Italiano’s visitors have demonstrated considerable attacking quality in the competition, arriving with seven points from their opening three fixtures. While Celtic have occasionally shown brilliant domestic form, their continental struggles remain profound. With the Scottish champions desperately needing a positive result and the Turkish side scoring freely, this clash presents an intriguing dynamic to analyse through the lens of a 4/1 Bet Builder.
Celtic v Beşiktaş Bet Builder Tip
J. Olaitan – To Score or Assist
Junior Olaitan’s creative influence offers a clear route into this market for a Besiktas side demonstrating immense attacking intent across their European fixtures. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has established himself as a reliable provider, generating 12 chances and 1.45 expected assists across his domestic campaign.
The strongest argument for Olaitan producing a goal contribution stems from the sheer volume of opportunities Besiktas create. Vincenzo Italiano’s side average 15 shots per match recently and have already scored nine times in just three Europa League outings, dismantling Marseille 4-1 and edging Hoffenheim 3-2. Olaitan provided an assist in that victory against the German side, highlighting his ability to deliver against established continental opposition. With 78 line-breaking passes and an impressive 88.4% passing accuracy rate, he frequently orchestrates the transitions that make Besiktas so dangerous.
Celtic’s defensive vulnerability provides the perfect environment for a player with Olaitan’s precise profile. Martin O’Neill’s side have conceded nine goals across three European defeats this season, struggling to contain transitions after surrendering a 4-0 aggregate advantage against LASK Linz in qualifying. The hosts have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three matches overall, and the expected absence of Alistair Johnston through injury only deepens their structural issues at the back. When a defence is shipping an average of three goals per game in Europe, the opposition’s primary creators naturally see their probability of securing an assist increase significantly.
If there is a reason for caution, it lies in Olaitan’s own finishing metrics rather than his creative output. He has managed only one goal this season, and his shot accuracy sits at a modest 36%, with just four of his 11 attempts hitting the target. His non-penalty expected goals figure of 0.66 suggests he is rarely getting on the end of high-quality chances himself. Furthermore, he was substituted after just 26 minutes against Crystal Palace, indicating his minutes are not always guaranteed.
However, the dual nature of this market mitigates those finishing concerns. By covering both goals and assists, the selection leverages his far superior creative numbers. Against a Celtic side completely devoid of European confidence and requiring a result, spaces will inevitably open up in Glasgow. Olaitan’s capacity to exploit those gaps and feed a frontline that has scored 14 goals in seven matches makes his direct involvement highly plausible. When combined with his demonstrated ability to retain possession and find teammates under pressure, the Benin international stands out as a prime candidate to contribute to the visitors’ attacking outpu
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R. Araújo – 1+ Shots
Ronald Araujo is expected to start at right-back for Liverpool, operating alongside Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, and Kostas Tsimikas. The defender has registered three shots across 576 minutes of football this season, averaging out to an effort roughly every two full matches. While his overall shot volume remains low, the specific nature of his attempts provides a clear route to fulfilling this market requirement.
All three of Araujo’s shots this term have been taken from inside the penalty area, and two have originated directly from corners. As a 192cm defender, his aerial presence makes him an immediate target during set-piece situations. Two of his three season attempts have been headers, highlighting his specific value when Liverpool push bodies forward for dead-ball deliveries. Given Liverpool’s aggressive attacking approach and their tendency to generate high corner counts, Araujo should receive opportunities to attack the ball in the opposition box against a makeshift Turkish defence.
The primary counterpoint to his shooting prospects is his recent lack of direct penalty-box involvement. Araujo has not registered a single shot in his last three appearances, returning blank returns against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Brighton. He played 90 minutes in both the Brighton and Chelsea fixtures without recording an effort, and the 27-year-old remains fundamentally a defensive player. His success in this market relies on Liverpool forcing enough set-pieces to overcome his lack of open-play shooting frequency.
Over 9.0 Corners
The case for a high corner count is firmly rooted in the contrasting tactical situations of the two sides. Liverpool are expected to dominate the territorial battle in Istanbul, and their sustained attacking pressure translates directly into wide set-pieces. The visitors arrive averaging over 11 corners per match, a remarkable volume that single-handedly covers the majority of the required threshold.
Liverpool’s tactical width is a significant driver of this statistic. With full-backs Tsimikas and Araujo supporting a forward line that includes traditional wide players like Barcola, Iraola’s team frequently attack the byline. When this wide play forces clearances from a Fenerbahce defence missing Oosterwolde and Oppong, the natural outcome is an elevated corner count. The hosts contribute to the total as well, averaging around four corners per match, which provides a useful buffer if Liverpool fall slightly short of their usual extreme output.
The main risk to this market involves game state. If Liverpool secure a comfortable early advantage and switch to a more controlled, possession-based approach, their urgency to attack wide areas could drop significantly. Furthermore, relying on Fenerbahce to deliver their average of four corners might prove difficult if they spend long periods trapped in their own half. The selection requires the competitive intensity of the match to persist into the second half, ensuring Liverpool maintain their typical attacking width.
Over 3.5 Cards
Fenerbahce’s recent domestic and European struggles create a challenging environment that frequently leads to disciplinary action. The Turkish side average close to three yellow cards per game, a statistic that reflects the defensive pressure they have absorbed in recent weeks. Facing a Liverpool attack that has already dismantled LASK and Villarreal this season, the hosts will likely resort to tactical fouls to break up rapid transitions.
The personnel mismatch in wide areas heightens the disciplinary risk. A reshuffled Fenerbahce defence featuring Brown and Skriniar must contend with the pace and footwork of Wirtz, Ngumoha, and Barcola. When defenders are unfamiliar with their immediate partners, late challenges and desperate interventions become far more common. Liverpool also contribute their own physical intensity to the fixture; Araujo has accumulated two yellow cards in his nine appearances, demonstrating that the visitors are willing to engage in the physical aspects of defending when required.
The strongest argument against a high card count is the possibility of a definitive early result. Should the visitors establish a commanding lead, the emotional temperature of the crowd at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium could flatten, removing the competitive tension that typically sparks late tackles and altercations. Nevertheless, with Fenerbahce desperate to secure their first European victory under Kuyt and Liverpool needing points to maintain their perfect start, the baseline intensity should easily support four bookings.
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