Sam Matterface and Glenn Hoddle commentate the Besiktas v Crystal Palace match on HBO Max and TNT Sports

The 2026 UEFA Europa League match between Besiktas and Crystal Palace kicks off on Saturday, 22 October 2026, with UK broadcasting beginning at 20:00. Fans will be able to follow the action live across two primary feeds: HBO Max, restricted to UK viewers, and TNT Sports 2 HD from the UK. Those unable to access either of those channels have a further option in the Premier Sports 2 HD feed, which is available to rest-of-UK (ROI) viewers only.

For anyone who prefers a lighter touch, TNT Sports also offers a highlights reel, so the essentials of the match can be caught even without committing to the full live stream. As ever with the Europa League, this is a compact competition, but the quality of broadcasting and commentary attached to it more than makes up for its brevity.

Who is commentating

Leading the commentary for this match is Sam Matterface, serving as main commentator on both the HBO Max/TNT Sports 2 HD feeds and the TNT Sports highlights reel. He is backed by co-commentator Glenn Hoddle, who appears alongside him across all three feeds. Rounding out the supporting team are three pundits: Karen Carney, Joel Ward and Asmir Begović, while Becky Ives is on reporter duties to help guide viewers through the key moments.

The presentation is fronted by Jules Breach, the channel's presenter. For those unfamiliar with the name, Jules Breach (née Sowa) is a British sports broadcaster associated with TNT Sports, Fox Sports, Viaplay and Channel 4, as detailed on his Wikipedia page. His involvement ties this Europa League match into the wider TNT Sports broadcasting family that has come to dominate the football telecast scene.

The role of TNT Sports in 2026

This match sits within the 2026/27 season in which TNT Sports and its streaming partner, HBO Max, are delivering more than 700 live football matches across the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Women's FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Serie A. The season has been fronted by a particularly strong broadcasting lineup, with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard expanding his role to become a regular presence throughout the campaign as both a pundit and co-commentator.

Glenn Hoddle's own career reflects the breadth of the broadcasting landscape. Born on 27 October 1957, he is an English football player and manager who now works as a television pundit and commentator for both ITV Sport and TNT Sports. Having previously served as a midfielder for clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco, Chelsea and Swindon Town, he brings the kind of seasoned background that gives his commentary weight.

The players in this match

One of this match's pundits, Joel Ward, carries plenty of pedigree of his own. Joel Edward Philip Ward, born 29 October 1989, is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back. A versatile defender able to play anywhere across the back-line, he was an academy graduate of Portsmouth, made his senior debut in 2009 following a loan to Bournemouth where he made 96 appearances, and signed for Crystal Palace in May 2012. It is fitting, then, that he is available to offer his insights on Crystal Palace's behalf this weekend.

The opposing side, Besiktas, fields the remaining pundits Karen Carney and Asmir Begović. Karen Carney has been a regular feature of the TNT Sports fold, having spent the recent summer in international football and returning for another season of matches alongside the wider team.

With a well-equipped commentary team, multiple UK-friendly feeds and the backing of a season that has already proven its broadcasting credentials, this Besiktas versus Crystal Palace encounter is set to be well covered. Tune in from 20:00 UK on Saturday, 22 October 2026, to catch it in full.

Article generated: 20 October 2026, 20:32 GMT