Sports · Football · 12 hrs ago
Ndidi Says Besiktas Will Target Wharton in Europa League Tie
Besiktas captain Wilfred Ndidi singled out Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton ahead of the teams' Europa League match in Turkey on Thursday.
Ndidi said Besiktas could get something from the game by putting the left-footed Wharton under pressure.
The sides meet in the competition's third round of league-phase matches.
Besiktas have won their first two games, beating Marseille and Hoffenheim.
Ndidi has faced Wharton twice in the Premier League, when Ndidi played for Leicester City.
A third straight win would strengthen Besiktas's position in the competition, while the match will test whether their approach can limit Wharton's influence in midfield.
The teams are set to meet on Thursday, but the starting lineups were not yet known.
Wilfred Ndidi said Besiktas intend to use the right defensive intensity against Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in their Europa League meeting.
Ndidi described Wharton as a good, left-footed player at a pre-match press conference.
The match is Besiktas’s home fixture in matchday three of the Europa League league phase, scheduled for Thursday in Turkey.
Besiktas have won their opening two matches in the competition, against Marseille and Hoffenheim.
Ndidi and Wharton have faced each other twice in the Premier League.
- Who
- Besiktas midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
- What
- Besiktas plan to target Wharton with the right defensive approach.
- When
- The match is scheduled for Thursday. The article was published on 22 October 2026.
- Where
- Besiktas’s home match in Turkey.
- Why
- Ndidi said Besiktas could get something out of the game by applying the right intensity to Wharton.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leicester City beat a side featuring Wharton 4-1 in their first Premier League meeting.
The second Premier League meeting between Ndidi and Wharton ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ndidi spoke about Wharton at a pre-match press conference.
Besiktas are scheduled to host Crystal Palace in their Europa League matchday three fixture.
- Besiktas’s Europa League record
- Won their opening two matches
- Previous opponents
- Marseille and Hoffenheim
- Wharton’s position
- Crystal Palace midfielder
- Ndidi’s description of Wharton
- Good player; left-footed
- Previous Premier League meetings
- Two
- First meeting result
- Leicester City won 4-1 in the 2023-24 season
1 source
What people are saying
For Thursday we don't know the starting lineup yet. Wharton is a good player, left-footed. With the right intensity on him, I think we can get something out of the game,