2. Underdog

Beşiktaş played their best football when they were the underdog. The Black Eagles gave Arsenal a real run for their money in the Champions League play-offs holding the Gunners to a goalless draw in Istanbul and narrowly losing 1-0 at the Emirates. The Istanbul won out in terms of possession against the Gunners (52% in Istanbul, 53.9% in London) and out-passed Arsenal home (490 passes to Arsenal’s 454 passes) and away (515 to the Gunners 439 passes) – the same Arsenal side that beat Galatasaray 4-1 in Istanbul and London. Beşiktaş also beat Tottenham in Istanbul and drew at White Hart Lane and knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League against all the odds. Considering West Ham are not expected to be challenging for the title, being the underdogs could play into Bilic’s hands.