UEFA CUP TIME FOR THREE TURKISH TEAMS

Besiktas and Galatasaray look to build over their wins, while Kayserispor chases a dream in Paris.

Besiktas visits Metalist Kharkiv for the UEFA Cup first round game Thursday.

After beating Metalist 1-0 in Istanbul two weeks ago, Besiktas holds an apparent advantage before the second leg game, and even a draw will be enough for it to advance to the competition's group stages for a record fourth time.

So, another game to Besiktas' eight-game unbeaten streak and the Black Eagles will fly off to the next round. However, playing at Metalist may be tricky. Besides the not-so-welcomingly cold climate, Metalist is a strong and physical team that does not allow many chances to its opposition.

Besiktas has seen enough of that, as the first leg game could have gone either way, if the only goal of the game was canceled for offside.

Besiktas was not playing its best in that game, but the Ukrainians were not very experienced at that stage and Ertugrul Saglam's side exploited that very well. It needs to do more of the same to advance to the next round.

The game at Metalist Stadium starts 8:00 p.m.

Galatasaray on a goal spree :

Galatasaray's job at the UEFA Cup may be easier, though, as it plays lowly Swiss side Bellinzona in Istanbul, also Thursday.

In an illogically open game, Galatasaray was victor 4-3 in Switzerland, leaving little work to do at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Now even a loss like 1-0 will see Galatasaray through to the next round, and it seems that Galatasaray will not lose much sweat over beating Bellinzona again.

The Swiss side is struggling in its league currently, and has only one win in nine games, while Galatasaray is on an astounding goal spree with 12 goals in three games. Its foreign players are the major reason for that attacking football shining, as Milan Baros took the lead with six goals.

The Czech player is successfully rehabilitating his career, especially remembering that he had nine goals in his 56 games in the last two years.

Thursday night he will try to add to his goal tally against a side that is not successful at defending. The game starts at 8:00 p.m.

Of all the four Turkish teams vying for further rounds on the European stage, Kayserispor probably has the most difficult task to do.

Losing the first leg game 2-1 to Paris St. Germain at its own ground, the Turkish Cup holder's chase for the next round is likely to be a chase for the rainbows.

Kayseri is known for its solid defensive play and may finish the game in France with a clean sheet, but this time conceding no goals will not be enough, it needs to score as well.

Tolunay Kafkas' side is a terrible attacking team and is yet to score two goals in a match this season.

In fact, Kayserispor has two goals in five league games, and if it wants to stay a part of the European competition, it needs at least two on Thursday.

However, the fact that Paris St. Germain is a vulnerable team may be promising. The Parisians have lost two games in a row, and Kayserispor looks to take the streak to three.

The game at the Parc des Princes starts at 10:00 p.m.Local Time.