Stoke City proved at the weekend they are a force at the Britannia Stadium and they will be hoping it continues against Besiktas in the Europa League.
The Potters were unlucky not to hang on for a win against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine a fortnight ago but Tony Pulis will not have too upset with a point as he will know that Stoke's chance of progressing to the second phase of the Europa League is reliant on their form at the Britannia.
That is what keeps Stoke in the Premier League every season and it is what should carry them a fair distance in their first foray into Europe. There is not a team in the world that will want to come and play against the Potters, as last season's beaten Champions League finalists, Manchester United, will testify.
The English champions lost their unbeaten record in the Potteries at the weekend and they were perhaps lucky to escape with a point, as goalkeeper David De Gea made some smart saves to prevent defeat.
It was Peter Crouch who scored - and missed several chances - against United and the England international is a 13/2 chance, at
William Hill, to open the scoring against Besiktas on Thursday evening. Stoke are 10/11, at
Boylesports, to win the match and that looks like a price that good enough to take.
The home side won 4-1 against FC Thun in the playoff round and the Swiss side are hardly much worse than Thursday's opponents, who were flattered by a 5-1 win over a woeful Maccabi Tel Aviv side in the last round of matches.
Besiktas, who are 18/5 at
Victor Chandler to beat Stoke, were beaten 2-0 by Alania Valdikavkaz in their only away Europa League away match this season and the Russians are not even a top flight side. The Potters should, therefore, be able to record a similarly straight forward victory.
