Besiktas Dominates Under Italiano as Nübel Shines

Besiktas have barely started the Vincenzo Italiano era, but the numbers already look ruthless. Six games, six wins, zero goals conceded. The latest step in that perfect start came with a 3-0 dismantling of FK Kauno Zalgiris in the first leg of their Europa League play-off, a result that has one foot planted firmly in the league phase of the 2026/27 competition.

The tone was set almost immediately. In the 6th minute, Hyeon-Gyu Oh struck to calm any early nerves and underline the gulf in class. Six minutes later, Michael Amir Murillo arrived to double the lead, and by the time Orkun Kökcü swept in the third on 59 minutes, the tie already felt close to decided. The Lithuanian side were chasing shadows; Besiktas were already thinking ahead.

Yet the story of this team so far isn’t the forwards, or even the high-profile midfield arrivals. It’s the man in goal.

Nübel’s flawless start

Alexander Nübel walked into Istanbul with something to prove. Years under contract at Bayern Munich, from 2020 to 2026, brought him only four competitive appearances for the German champions. A successful loan spell at Stuttgart reminded people of his talent, but he still arrived at Besiktas with question marks over whether he could be a long-term No. 1 at a big club.

Six games in, the answer is blunt.

Against Kauno Zalgiris, Nübel made his sixth competitive appearance for his new club. He kept his sixth clean sheet. Not a single goal conceded this season. The Turkish press have reacted accordingly. Daily newspaper Hürriyet captured the mood, hailing him as a “wall” and revelling in the fact that “he does not concede any goals,” noting how he has “caused a stir with his performances in the black-and-white shirt.”

For a club rebuilding its identity under a new coach and with a raft of new signings, that kind of reliability at the back changes everything. It gives Italiano licence to attack, to push full-backs high, to dominate the ball. When the goalkeeper looks unbeatable, the whole team plays with a different kind of swagger.

Spending big, starting fast

Besiktas’ early surge is no accident. It has been fuelled by heavy investment and a clear decision to refresh the squad in almost every department. Club officials have already committed just under €67 million on new players, a statement that this is not a gentle transition but a full-throttle rebuild.

Nübel arrived permanently from Bayern Munich in July for just under €6 million, a fee that already looks shrewd given his start. Kökcü, initially on loan from Benfica, was signed outright for €30 million to anchor the midfield and drive the game from deep. Up front and out wide, the club added serious pedigree: Dusan Vlahovic joined on a free transfer from Juventus, while Leandro Trossard came in from Arsenal for €18 million.

Those names are not squad-fillers. They are players expected to define matches, to drag Besiktas back into regular European relevance and to push for the Süper Lig title.

The early signs under Italiano are promising. The win over Kauno Zalgiris made it six victories from six in all competitions. No opponent has found a way past Nübel. No sign yet of the side needing time to gel.

One cloud over a bright night

It wasn’t all good news against the Lithuanian underdogs. Trossard, one of the headline arrivals, suffered an injury during the match and was forced off early. For a player brought in to add guile, goals and experience in the final third, any spell on the sidelines would be a blow.

Besiktas will hope the damage is limited. Their schedule offers little room to breathe. Before they can close out the tie in next Thursday’s second leg, they travel to Alanyaspor on matchday two of the Süper Lig, carrying all the weight of this perfect start and the expectations that come with it.

The momentum is theirs. The money has been spent. The coach has his ideas taking root. And behind it all, a goalkeeper who could not break through at Bayern now stands in Istanbul, unbeaten and untouched, daring the rest of Turkey and Europe to try and beat him.