Looking to wrap up their Europa League group stage ticket with another flurry on Thursday evening, Besiktas will travel to Lithuania when they meet Kauno Zalgiris for their second-leg showdown.With a stacked midweek schedule from across the continent in midweek, there are plenty of eye-catching betting promotions available.Verdict: Besiktas win & Under 4.5 goalsBest Odds: 17/20Bookmaker: BetUSKauno ZalgirisStarting with the hosts, completely blown away when they travelled to Istanbul last week, Kauno Zalgiris are searching for what would be an iconic qualifying miracle on Thursday evening. Eventually falling to a deserved 3-0 drumming on foreign soil, Zeljiko Sopic’s side will be bracing themselves for another monumental challenge when they return to the Darius and Girenas Stadium here. Likewise, facing a real uphill battle in the race to defend their domestic crown this season, the Greens have shown some extended issues. Watching their Champions League qualifying adventure come to a thumping end earlier in the month as they slumped to a 7-1 aggregate defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, Kauno Zalgiris have mustered just a sole win from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions.Kauno Zalgiris Team NewsAhead of their return to Lithuania on Thursday evening, Kauno Zalgiris have reported a clean bill of health. Settling for a spot on the bench in Istanbul last week, new recruit and one-time Kosovo international Lirim Kastrati could be handed a full recall.Likewise, fellow summer arrival and former Hibernian midfielder Vykintas Slivka will start in the middle of the park on Thursday evening and partner Franco Baldassarra.BesiktasAs for the visitors, cruising their way to an empathic first-leg advantage in Istanbul last week, Besiktas will simply be dreaming of a repeat performance on Thursday evening. More than deserving of their routine 3-0 victory, Vincenzo Italiano’s side are sat firmly in the driving seat to officially punch their Europa League group stage ticket. Laying down a qualifying marker last month as they claimed a 3-0 aggregate win against Danish giants Midtjylland, the Black Eagles will be confident of making another public statement here. Despite suffering domestic frustration over the weekend as they fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Alanyaspor, Besiktas have won each of their other six appearances across all competitions since opening up the 2026/27 campaign. Likewise, that late 1-0 defeat outside of Istanbul on Sunday is the only strike that Italiano’s camp have shipped since returning from the summer interval.Besiktas Team NewsCompleting a blockbuster free switch to Istanbul this month, former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic could make a maiden Besiktas start on Thursday evening. Likewise, fellow new recruit and Belgium international Leandro Trossard should partner Vlahovic in the final third.Holding a dominant first-leg advantage ahead of Thursday’s trip to Lithuania, Italiano could be tempted to make a handful of alterations here. Ex-Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi could make a first Europa League qualifying start in midweek.Kauno Zalgiris vs Besiktas Key Factors to ConsiderWhen Kauno Zalgiris and Besiktas met for their first-leg showdown in Istanbul last week, Thursday’s guests cruised their way to a routine 3-0 victory.Besiktas have won six of their first seven competitive appearances across all competitions since opening up the 2026/27 campaign.Despite falling to a 1-0 loss against Alanyaspr last weekend, that is the only goal that Besiktas have shipped in their first seven appearances.Kauno Zalgiris have mustered just a sole win from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions.Continuing on from their summer preparations, Besiktas have seen six of their previous seven away fixtures finish with under 2.5 goals.ConclusionPutting in a dominant first-leg performance in Istanbul last week as they stormed their way to a routine 3-0 victory, Besiktas will simply be seeking a repeat display here. Looking to wrap up their Europa League group stage ticket on Thursday evening with another flurry, the Black Eagles have impressed since opening up the 2026/27 campaign. Remarkably shipping just a sole strike from any of their first seven appearances across all competitions, it is no surprise that Italiano’s side are pencilled in as a landslide contender in Lithuania.Verdict: Besiktas win & Under 4.5 goalsBest Odds: 17/20Bookmaker: BetUSThe post Prediction: Kauno Zalgiris vs Besiktas appeared first on SoccerNews.