Friday, August 13, 2021 at 9:27 PM• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 21:47

Besiktas had an excellent start to the season in the Süper Lig on Friday. The reigning national champion made no mistake in his own Vodafone Park against Rizespor, the number thirteen of last season in Turkey. An important role was reserved for Atiba Hutchinson: the now 38-year-old former PSV player signed for the second goal. It ended up being 3-0.

Besiktas got away well in the opening phase, when Alper Potuk broke through on the left flank, but Fabrice N’Sakala was able to clear his low cross. The home side struck in the ninth minute. Kenan Karaman put in a low cross from the right, after which Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put his opponent in front of him with a smart assumption. The Besiktas striker shot the ball hard and high from a difficult angle: 1-0.

Rachid Ghezzal, who was recently taken over from Leicester City, had Besiktas’ second goal on the boot later in the first half. Ghezzal turned the ball dangerously towards the far corner, but hit the head of Damjan Dokovic. Seven minutes after the break, Besiktas doubled his lead. Valentin Rosier was reached in complete freedom on the right wing, after which the low cross from the fullback was controlled with difficulty by Atiba Hutchinson. The experienced midfielder printed from close range: 2-0. Besiktas increased his lead in stoppage time. A shot by Gokhan Tore was saved, but Cyle Larin struck in the rebound: 3-0.