Europa League: Ndidi features as Besiktas hold off Hoffenheim in five-goal thriller

Besiktas secured a 3-2 victory away to Hoffenheim in the second round of the UEFA Europa League league phase, with Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi starting in the win at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim on Thursday.

Ndidi was named in the Besiktas starting line-up and completed 90 minutes before being substituted. The result gave the Turkish side their second victory of the competition’s league phase.

The match remained goalless until the hour mark, when Besiktas took the lead through Amir Murillo.

Hoffenheim responded eight minutes later, with Fisnik Asllani finding the net in the 68th minute to bring the German hosts level.

Besiktas restored their advantage four minutes later. Oh Hyeon-Gyu scored in the 72nd minute to make it 2-1, before the South Korean forward struck again seven minutes later.

His second goal put Besiktas 3-1 ahead and left Hoffenheim facing defeat in their opening home match of the league phase.

Hoffenheim continued to press in the closing stages and reduced the deficit in the 88th minute through Koki Machida.

However, Besiktas held on through the remaining minutes to claim all three points and make it two wins from two matches in the competition.

The result leaves Hoffenheim still without a victory in this season’s UEFA Europa League. Their campaign began with a 2-0 defeat by OFI Crete, and they were unable to recover against Besiktas despite scoring twice in the second half.