Demba Ba hat-trick fires Beşiktaş past Feyenoord

A Demba Ba hat-trick sent Beşiktaş into the Champions League playoff round at the expense of former winners Feyenoord on Aug. 6.

The Black Eagles, who finished third in the Turkish Super League last season,
only qualified in a knock-on effect because champions Fenerbahçe are
serving the second of a two-year ban over domestic match-fixing in 2011.

Following a 2-1 first leg victory, Beşiktaş extended their lead
after 28 minutes when Mustafa Pektemek raced clear down the left and
played in former Hoffenheim, Newcastle and Chelsea forward Ba, who
slotted into the net with his right foot.

Elvis Manu lobbed an
equaliser for Feyenoord in the 74th minute but Senegalese forward Ba
replied with two goals in the last 10 minutes as the Istanbul side won 3-1 to
complete a 5-2 aggregate win.

Now rivals such as Arsenal, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen or Zenit expect Beşiktaş in the playoff round.
But Croatian coach Slaven Bilic said that whichever team they may face, they will play without fear. "This team has a lot of potential. I won't select any rival. They are all respectable teams. We will try to achieve a surprise," Bilic said following the match, adding that he was satisfied with his team's performance.

"We weren't aggressive enough during the first half. We were nervous until the first goal, but we then played very well," he said, while praising Demba Ba's game.

"I spoke with him many times, he is not yet at 100 percent. But his name is sufficient," Bilic said.

Elsewhere,  Ludogorets Razgrad went through on away goals after a dramatic 2-2 draw at 10-man Partizan Belgrade and Zenit St Petersburg scored three second-half goals to end a brave challenge from AEL Limassol...