Be?ikta?, Fenerbahçe begin Europa League group campaign

Turkey?s Be?ikta? and Fenerbahçe are set to launch their Europa League group stage campaigns on Sept. 17, with the latter facing a tough task in Group A, which also includes Ajax and Celtic, along with Norwegian club Molde that will visit Istanbul in the opening game. 

Be?ikta? will visit Albania?s Skënderbeu, a newcomer to the Europa League, while Lokomotiv Moscow and Sporting will clash in Portugal for the top two spots of Group H. 

Fenerbahçe?s new striker Robin van Persie could score his first UEFA Europa League goal against Molde, while coach Vítor Pereira?s Portuguese compatriot Nani is another big gun for the Istanbul side. 

Ajax?s Nick Viergever believes his team?s meeting with Celtic could prove decisive. 

?We need to win against Celtic because Fenerbahçe are the favorites. They have spent a lot of money on their squad recently so that means realistically there is probably only one other place,? Viergever was quoted as saying by the Daily Record. 

?Last year we progressed in the Europa League to play Inter Milan in the knockout stages, and the group this year is a Champions League group in all but name,? Celtic manager Ronny Deila told the club?s website. ?We know it?s going to be difficult but we?ve got the players here to definitely believe we can get through.? 

Like Celtic, Ajax - coached by former Rangers player Frank de Boer - was eliminated in qualifying for the Champions League but they are unbeaten domestically and sit at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie. 

Be?ikta?, which knocked Liverpool out in the round of 32 last year before bowing out to Club Brugge KV in the round of 16, now has German striker Mario Gomez and Portuguese star Ricardo Quaresma on its books, under the management of its...