Besiktas plays against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League tonight, hoping to guarantee a spot for the next round of the competition, while Israeli side wants to use its slight chances, as Turkey Israel relations are tense than ever.

Istanbul / NationalTurk – The Black Eagles, Besiktas Istanbul are second in Group E, just behind Stoke City, with 6 points and can punch their ticket to the next round if they can win in Israel and third-place Dynamo Kyiv loses in England.

Besiktas hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in Istanbul on the opening day of the group on Sept. 15. The home team was dominant from the start to the finish and trashed its opponent 5-1, with double goals by Portuguese forward Hugo Almeida, with Egemen Korkmaz, Mehmet Aurelio and Edu having a taste on Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi are last in the group with one point, having only a slight chance to qualify for next round in the Euro League competition, even should they win against the Turkish side.

Turkey Israel Relations / Put the politics aside afore Besiktas Maccabi game

The football was overshadowed by then-escalated tensions between Turkey Israel relations. The game at Istanbul’s Inönü Stadium came amid deepening tensions between the two Turkey and Israel after Israel refused to apologize for a raid on a Gaza-bound ship last year that killed nine activists, prompting Turkey to expel top Israeli diplomats from Ankara, cut military ties with the country and vow to send Navy vessels to escort aid ships to Gaza in the future.

There were calls to UEFA to reschedule the game at a neutral venue, but the Turkish government assured Maccabi of its safety, and there was no crowd trouble or hostility toward the Israeli side by Besiktas fans as some feared. Besiktas fans , always socially aware, acted on common sense and ‘let down’ some vulture’s heinous expectations.

Unlike the first match, the political context of the game was not highlighted by the Turkish media, giving Beşiktaş the opportunity to focus solely on football and glory on the grass field.

Beşiktaş was beaten in both of its visits in the group, to Stoke City and Dynamo Kyiv respectively, but bounced back with a valuable 1-0 win against the Ukrainians on Nov. 3 on home turf İnonü Stadium.