Turkish clubs out to book Europa League playoff spots

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Super Lig clubs Besiktas, Galatasaray, and Aytemiz Alanyaspor will be in action on Thursday as they seek to secure their place in the Europa League playoffs.

Besiktas will face Rio Ave from Portugal in Istanbul's Vodafone Park, with the game set to kick off at 8 p.m. local time (1700GMT).

A victory will set up Besiktas for a playoff tie against either Italian side AC Milan or Norway’s Bodo Glimt at the Vodafone Park on Oct. 1.

Galatasaray will take on Croatian club Hajduk Split in the third qualifying round tomorrow. The game will start in Istanbul’s Turk Telekom Stadium at 9 p.m. local time (1800GMT).

If the Lions win, they will face either Willem II or Glasgow Rangers in an away game on Oct.1 to qualify for the Europa League group stages.

Aytemiz Alanyaspor travel to Norway for a clash with Rosenborg on Thursday night.

The match gets underway at the Lerkendal Stadium at 8 p.m. Turkish time (1700GMT).

By eliminating Rosenborg, Alanyaspor will book a playoff date at home on Oct. 1 against either Slovenian side Mura or Dutch team PSV Eindhoven.

Thursday’s ties, as well as next week’s playoffs, will be single-leg knockout fixtures and will be played behind closed doors.