Injury-depleted Beşiktaş takes on Wolfsburg

Beşiktaş hopes to net its first victory in the Champions League Group B when it welcomes Wolfsburg on Tuesday, but an injury depleted squad will not help the team's cause.

After earning just one draw in the first three games at the highest-level competition of European club football, Beşiktaş needs nothing less than a win taking on the German champions at Istanbul's İnönü Stadium. However, coach Mustafa Denizli will have a limited squad due to several injuries.

Goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber, midfielder Rodrigo Tello, striker Nihat Kahveci and defenders İsmail Köybaşı and İbrahim Toraman are all injured and likely to be sidelined for the crucial game. Apart from injuries, Beşiktaş will have to play through fatigue, according to Denizli.

Speaking after Beşiktaş's 1-0 win over Ankaragücü on Saturday, Denizli complained about the Turkish Football Federation's refusal to change the date of the Turkcell Super League match.

The Beşiktaş coach said that the club had applied to the Federation to play that game on Friday, which would have given the team one more day to prepare for its crucial Champions League match Tuesday.

“We wanted to play this game Friday because we have another match ahead against our most serious opponent in our Champions League group,” said Denizli. “We don’t want any privileges for Beşiktaş. But think about it, why did not we play a night ago, or even in the afternoon?"

Denizli said that his players could sleep no earlier than 3 or 4 a.m. Sunday morning, which left only one day for Beşiktaş to prepare for the Champions League game.

"The Ankaragücü game was tough but the Wolfsburg game will be tougher," said the Turkish coach. "Now we will do what we can during the only day we have left before the game.”

Beşiktaş lost its first two games in Group B, but found a glimmer of hope for qualifying after the third game. The Black Eagles lost to last year's Champions League finalist Manchester United 1-0 in the opening week, which was followed by a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Russian side CSKA Moscow. The Turkish champion put an end to its losing streak against Wolfsburg two weeks ago. The goalless draw in Germany was a promising one for Beşiktaş, which nearly won late in the game against a 10-man German team. Now Beşiktaş will try to finish what it started at Wolfsburg.

Beşiktaş will primarily rely on its tough defense. Powered by the solid defensive line of Tomas Sivok and Matteo Ferrari, who have been hailed as the Black Eagles' best performers since the start of the campaign, Beşiktaş allowed only six goals in the Super League this season. While a hardworking midfield trio of Fabian Ernst, Michael Fink and Ekrem Dağ helps the team’s defense, the main problem seems to be on offense. Scoring only 11 goals in 15 games this season, Beşiktaş continues to win games only when it maintains a shutout.

The absence of Wolfsburg's Brazilian striker Grafite may be an advantage for Beşiktaş, but the Istanbul side should watch out for the aerial ability of towering Bosnian attacker Edin Dzeko.

In the other Group B match, leader Manchester United, who has a perfect record of three wins in as many games, welcomes CSKA Moscow. The Russian side parted ways with coach Juande Ramos last week after just nine games at the helm.