Amed SK vs Besiktas: Wilfred Ndidi faces Gift Orban test

Gift Orban, the Nigerian forward leading the Super Lig scoring charts with six goals from five appearances, carries Amed SK’s firepower into Sunday’s home date with Besiktas, Afrik-Foot reports.

The meeting at Diyarbakir Stadyumu is the first ever competitive fixture between these two clubs, arriving with Amed SK third in the table and Besiktas just one place and two points above them in second.

Besiktas travel to Diyarbakir on the back of three straight Super Lig wins and a midweek Europa League victory over Marseille.

Amed SK, for their part, have won every home league match played so far this season and go into round six unbeaten at Diyarbakir Stadyumu since their promotion.

Match radar

⚽ Amed SK vs Besiktas
Competition	Turkish Super Lig, Round 6
Kickoff	Sunday, September 20, 2026
Venue	Diyarbakir Stadyumu, Diyarbakir
Amed SK have won all three home league matches so far this season, scoring 10 and conceding just one

Form and context: Amed SK’s home run meets Besiktas’ momentum

Amed SK are enjoying arguably the finest start of any promoted side in the Super Lig this season, sitting third with three wins, one draw and one loss from their first five matches.

Their form at Diyarbakir Stadyumu has been the standout, with all three home matches won and 10 goals scored against just one conceded.

They have also kept two clean sheets in their five league matches this season, and both of those came at home.

The most recent home outing came in eye-catching fashion, a 5-0 demolition of Istanbul Basaksehir in which Orban scored a second-half hat-trick.

Away from home the picture has been shakier for Besnik Hasi’s side, with a 2-2 draw at Kasimpasa and a 0-2 loss at Kocaelispor from their two road trips.

Besiktas arrive in stronger recent form on paper, having won three of their last three Super Lig matches, including a 6-2 thrashing of Corum FK and a 2-1 win away at Fenerbahce.

They followed that up in midweek with a 4-1 win over Marseille in the Europa League, meaning Vincenzo Italiano’s side go into the weekend with four wins from their last five matches in all competitions, the only blemish a 1-0 loss away to FK Kauno Zalgiris.

Besiktas’ away form in the league itself has been mixed though, with one win and one loss from their two Super Lig trips this season, and their sole league defeat of the campaign has come on the road.

That contrast, an Amed SK side unbeaten and free-scoring at home against a Besiktas team who have struggled for consistency away from Istanbul, sets up a more even contest than the two points separating them in the table might suggest.

Head-to-head: Amed SK and Besiktas meet for the first time

Amed SK and Besiktas have never previously met in a competitive fixture, in the Super Lig or any other competition.

That means there is no reverse fixture from earlier this season to reference, and no overall head-to-head record between the two clubs before Sunday.

Both sides go into this one shaped purely by current form rather than any history against this particular opponent.

Nigeria and Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. Photo by IMAGO

Team news and predicted XI

Amed SK will again be without Muhammed Yildirim and Super Eagles winger Yira Sor, both sidelined by muscle injuries, though both are expected to return before the end of September.

Dilhan Demir remains a longer-term absentee after a cruciate ligament injury, with his return not expected before early November.

Besnik Hasi could otherwise name an unchanged XI following the win over Basaksehir.

Besiktas have their own injury concern up front, with Leandro Trossard ruled out for one to two weeks by a tendon problem.

Vaclav Cerny is a doubt of his own after picking up a knock in the Europa League win over Marseille, and Italiano could turn to Ernest Poku if the winger fails to prove his fitness in time.

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has had limited playing time for Besiktas so far this season and the former Leicester City man could again start from the bench.

Amed SK	Besiktas
Muhammed Yildirim – out (injury) Yira Sor – out (injury) Dilhan Demir – out (long-term injury)	Leandro Trossard – out (injury) Vaclav Cerny – doubtful (knock)

Predicted XI – Amed SK (4-2-3-1)

Lafont; Krasniqi, Bates, Dellova, Meras; Soyalp, Raveloson; Khalil, Saba, Ballet; Orban

Predicted XI – Besiktas (4-1-4-1)

Nubel; Murillo, Agbadou, Topcu, Ouattara; Ozcan; Poku, Olaitan, Kokcu, Fakili; Vlahovic

Star player comparison: Gift Orban vs Dusan Vlahovic

Orban already has four of Amed SK’s 10 home league goals this season, comfortably the most of anyone in either squad book.

Gift Orban Striker · Amed SK	Stat	Dusan Vlahovic Striker · Besiktas
6	Goals	4
1	Assists	0
5	Appearances	3
7.77	Season rating	7.72

The managers: Besnik Hasi and Vincenzo Italiano

Besnik Hasi, the 54-year-old Albanian in charge of Amed SK, has guided the newly promoted side to third place through their first five rounds back in the top flight.

Vincenzo Italiano, the 48-year-old Italian at the Besiktas helm, has his side second in the table and unbeaten in three matches across all competitions heading into the weekend.

Neither manager has previously come up against the other in a competitive match, in keeping with the lack of history between the two clubs themselves.

Tactical preview: How Amed SK and Besiktas could line up

Amed SK have operated in a 4-2-3-1 shape in recent matches, built around Orban as the focal point with Dia Saba and Samuel Ballet linking play just behind him.

That front line has punished teams who sit off them, with the 10 goals scored in three home matches coming from quick combinations through the middle third.

Besiktas’ 4-1-4-1 system relies on Salih Ozcan screening the back four, which in turn frees Orkun Kokcu to dictate tempo further forward.

The visitors have shown some fragility on the road this season though, conceding two goals across their two Super Lig away matches, and Amed SK’s front three could find room if Ozcan is dragged out of position by Saba’s movement.

At the other end, Besiktas’ width through Ilhan Fakili and Ernest Poku could cause problems if Amed SK’s full backs push too high, leaving space in behind for the visitors to counter into.

Referee Ali Sansalan has also shown a fairly high card count this season, averaging 4.8 yellow cards per match, which could shape how physical either side is willing to get in the tackle.