Once hailed as the Süper Lig’s second-best defense, Beşiktaş’s backline has collapsed in dramatic fashion – and so have their hopes for a strong finish.
The Black Eagles have stumbled badly down the stretch, losing three of their last five matches and conceding seven goals in that stretch.
Their latest 1-0 defeat to Başakşehir didn’t just add to their misery – it put their grip on third place at serious risk.
They failed to capitalize on a slip-up by third-place Samsunspor and are now only one point clear of a resurgent Eyüpspor.
Beşiktaş’s collapse isn’t just about results – it’s structural. In their previous 11 league matches between Weeks 16 and 26, they had conceded just eight goals. That discipline has evaporated.
Tale of 2 Solskjaers
When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over, Beşiktaş surged. His first five matches brought four wins, one draw, and only three goals conceded – a dream start for the Norwegian.
But that momentum hit a wall. In his last five league matches, Solskjaer’s men managed just four points, shipping seven goals and showing signs of tactical disarray.
The contrast couldn’t be sharper: from contender to crisis.
Injuries compound the chaos
The defense has been further rattled by injury woes. Gabriel Paulista missed 12 games with a lengthy layoff before returning in Week 27 against Gaziantep FK.
Just as the veteran Brazilian returned, disaster struck again: German center-back Felix Uduokhai suffered a torn ligament in his right ankle, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Without a stable pairing at the back, Beşiktaş have struggled to rebuild their once-imposing defensive line. The cracks are now wide open – and so are the spaces behind them.