Two teams still seeking their first victory in the league phase will clash on Thursday for matchday three of the Conference League, when Copenhagen host Istanbul Basaksehir.
The hosts are 25th in the standings with just one point from two games, while the visitors are 33rd in the table and are yet to gain any points after their two matches.
Match preview
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Copenhagen have had a mixed start to the 2024-25 season, currently positioned third in the Danish Superliga and only one point behind the league leaders, FC Midtjylland, but they have not yet won a match in the Conference League.
They originally successfully qualified for the competition by beating FC Bruno's Magpies 8-1 on aggregate in the second round, Banik Ostrava 2-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third round and Kilmarnock 3-1 on aggregate in the playoff round.
However, they suffered a frustrating defeat in their opening league phase match, squandering a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Jagiellonia Bialystok, which included conceding a last-minute winner in the 97th minute from Darko Churlinov.
Jacob Neestrup's side secured their first point as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Real Betis in their second game, thanks to a penalty from Kevin Diks, but that leaves them still in search of their initial win in the league phase.
They will be encouraged by the fact that they have remained unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions. However, with four draws during that stretch, Neestrup's men will need to show significant improvement to secure a victory here.
While Copenhagen have had a good start to their league season, Istanbul, in comparison, have endured a challenging opening across all competitions at the beginning of this term.
They are eighth in the Turkish Super Lig table with 15 points from 10 outings, already five points behind the fourth-placed team, where they finished last campaign, while they have yet to record a point in the league phase of the Conference League.
Istanbul did manage to triumph in the qualification rounds of the Conference League, beating La Fiorita, FC Iberia 1999 and St Patrick's Athletic en route to the league phase.
That form coincided with a strong opening to the league, losing just one of their opening seven matches, with four wins and two draws, but they have since gone six games without a win across all competitions.
Cagdas Atan, who has been in charge since September 2023, will, therefore, be aiming to not only bring that run to an end with a win here, but also looking to secure their first three points of the Conference League.
Team News
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The hosts may be without Birger Meling, Nicolai Boilesen and Rasmus Falk, who are doubtful due to injury concerns, while Roony Bardghji has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Elsewhere, with Copenhagen unbeaten in their last six outings across all competitions, Neestrup could decide to name a similar side to the one that drew with Silkeborg last time out.
As for the visitors, Olivier Kemen was forced off in the 78th minute of their 3-2 defeat to Konyaspor last time out, and the defender is a doubt for this one.
Atan will also be absent from the touchline for Istanbul after the manager received a red card in the humiliating 5-1 defeat to NK Celje in their last Conference League game.
Copenhagen possible starting lineup:
Trott; Gocholeishvili, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Diks; Lerager, Delaney; Elyounoussi, Froholdt; Cornelius, Claesson
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Sahiner, Duarte, Opoku, Lima; Crespo, Ergun, Figueiredo; Turuc, Piatek, Gurler
We say: Copenhagen 2-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
With Istanbul coming into this game having failed to win any of their six outings, while Copenhagen are unbeaten in their past six, we believe the hosts will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
