Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Besiktas 2-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round match played on July 24, 2025, at the Tüpraş Stadyum (Vodafone Park) in Istanbul[3][4][6]. Shakhtar took an early lead through Alisson Santana Lopes da Fonseca in the 7th minute, followed by a second goal from Eguinaldo de Sousa Lemos in the 28th minute. Besiktas’ only goal came from a penalty converted by Tammy Abraham in the 40th minute[3][6].
The encounter showcased Shakhtar’s attacking prowess, as highlighted by their recent form—scoring 11 goals in their last three wins. Alisson Santana was particularly outstanding, notching 2 goals and 2 assists in his previous appearances and again finding the net here[2]. Besiktas, under new coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær, saw flashes of quality from young forward Semih Kilicsoy, but struggled to break down Shakhtar’s organized defense[2].
Statistically, Shakhtar have historically held the upper hand over Besiktas, with 2 wins and 1 draw in their three recent direct encounters prior to this match[1]. Both teams’ defensive records were highlighted in the build-up, as the previous four head-to-head matches had all finished under 2.5 total goals, but Shakhtar’s firepower proved decisive on this occasion[1].
References
- [1] Besiktas vs Shakhtar Donetsk H2H 24 jul 2025 Head to … – FcTables
- [2] Besiktas vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction: 24.07.2025 … – Tips.gg
- [3] Beşiktaş vs Shakhtar Donetsk live score, H2H and lineups – Sofascore
- [4] Besiktas vs. Shakhtar (24 Jul, 2025) Live Score – ESPN (UK)
- [6] Form and head to head stats Besiktas vs Shak Donetsk – Sky Sports