Report: Palace earn point at Besiktas to make European progress

Match reports

2 hours ago

Olaïtan 73'

Ndidi 45+2'

Mateta 55'

Pino 51'

Crystal Palace had to settle for a point in Turkey after an entertaining contest against Besiktas ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Eagles put in a vastly improved display after their two previous outings, and goals from Yéremy Pino and the returning Jean-Philippe Mateta appeared to have put them on course for an away win. But Besiktas salvaged a draw through a late Junior Olaitan goal.

Summary;

6: Mateta appears to sweep Palace in front, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside
16: Richards heads over after Pino's clipped delivery
21: Mitchell drags a shot wide
30: Mateta forces an excellent save after connecting on the run with Wharton's corner
45+2 – Goal: Besiktas lead after Ndidi breaks forward a fires home a shot.
HT: Besiktas 1-0 Palace
47: McNeil has a strong looking penalty appeal waved away
51 - GOAL: Pino levels after ramming home a Khalaili cross from close range.
55 - GOAL: Mateta gets his first of the season with a wonderful finish to put Palace in front!
73 - Goal: Besiktas hit back through substitute Olaitan
77: The hosts are reduced to ten men after Akdag is sent off for a wild challenge on Strand Larsen.
86: Nketiah fires a shot wide.
FT: Besiktas 2-2 Palace

The Eagles were returning to Turkey for the first time since 1998’s Intertoto Cup trip to face Samsunspor and faced a typically raucous Istanbul atmosphere.

It looked like they got the perfect start to a night in the cauldron after just five minutes. Yéremy Pino looked to get on the end of a loose ball after good work from Dwight McNeil, only to hit the deck.

It rolled kindly for the returning Jean-Philippe Mateta, making his first start since the opening day, who swept home past Alexander Nübel.

Sadly, the joy was cut short. A swift VAR review ruled that the Frenchman was marginally offside.

Despite that disappointment, the Eagles continued to put Besiktas on the back foot in the early stages. A delightful one-two between Adam Wharton and Yéremy Pino cut through the Turks’ defence, with a cross from the former nearly converted by Mateta, who narrowly failed to connect.

In Palace’s previous airings of the Eagle wings shirt this season, Tyrick Mitchell scored twice against Fulham and had a goal ruled out against Leeds and he was nearly at it again in Turkey.

The wing-back got his first sight of goal in the 21st minute, narrowly dragging a shot wide as Palace’s positive start continued.

Nübel was again forced to keep Palace at the bay in the 30th minute – Mateta connected with a sweet volley from Wharton’s corner, but the Besiktas stopper held on.

By contrast, Besiktas barely threatened – one wayward effort from Umit Akdag from distance, appeared to sum up their first-half, or so it seemed.

With their very first shot on target in stoppage time, the home side got themselves in front.

Wilfried Ndidi ran in behind the back three and fired low in the bottom corner, giving the Turkish side a half-time lead, very much against the run of the play.

Undeterred, Palace continued to press after the interval and got their reward within a few minutes.

McNeil played a wonderful ball to Khalaili, who was initially judged to be offside. His cross was rammed home by Pino, with a VAR review thankfully showing the wing-back was onside.

It was Pino’s third goal in as many games in the Europa League – the Spaniard continuing his fine start to 2026/27.

Within minutes, Palace had a second to complete a stunning turnaround. Mateta read a sloppy back pass from Tiago Djaló, racing onto the loose ball before slamming it into the net – his first goal since Leipzig.

It was a fully-deserved goal for the France international, who up until that point had given the Besiktas defence a torrid night.

He was then withdrawn for Jorgen Strand Larsen, with Sage also bringing off the excellent McNeil to give Ismaïla Sarr a run out.

With the scoreline now in their favour, the Eagles continued to dictate proceedings, with Wharton and Kamada dominating the midfield.

Yet once again, as the game looked to be getting away from them, a bolt from the blue got Besiktas level.

Substitute Junior Olaïtan sidestepped two challenges on the edge of the box, before rifling a low drive into the far corner of Benítez’s goal.

It teed up a grandstand finish – but the hosts were dealt a blow right at the start of the finale.

Akdag dived in with a dangerously wild tackle on Strand Larsen, seeing a straight red and reducing the hosts to ten players.

Then came a solid penalty appeal – a wonderful Wharton pass released Kamada, who was nudged off the ball inside the box. However, referee Danny Makkelie waved the appeal away.

Palace were then dealt a blow of their own. Strand Larsen forced off through injury after an awkward-looking landing, with Eddie Nketiah replacing him.

Nketiah quickly had a sight of goal, but could only find the side netting, with Palace unable to create another clear-cut chance.

In the end Pierre Sage’s side had to settle for a draw, but it was a positive point on the road that sees Palace take a vital step towards qualification for the knockout stage.

The Eagles are back in Europa League action in a fortnight's time, at home to Hoffenheim.

Besiktas: Nubel (GK), Bulut (Murillo, 64), Djalo, Akdag, Ouattara, Trossard, Miretti (Özcan, 39), Ndidi, Yilmaz (Olaitan, 64), Fakili (Černý, 75), Oh Hyeon-Gyu (Vlahović, 75).

Subs: Dogan Alemdar (GK), Agbadou, Poku, Rıdvan Yılmaz, Emirhan Topçu, Yasin Özcan, Semih Kılıçsoy.

Palace: Benítez (GK), Richards, Disasi, Canvot, Khalaili, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino (Osorio, 72), McNeil (Sarr, 61), Mateta (Strand Larsen, 61, Nketiah 85).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Benetton (GK), Ahanor, King, Mingueza, Chilwell, Benamar, Hughes.