Fenerbahçe – Stability in Domestic Competitions, but European Challenges Remain
Fenerbahçe enters this clash on an impressive streak of 12 matches unbeaten, with eight wins in their last 10 home games. However, while these statistics suggest top form, their European campaign has been far from ideal. The club barely secured a place in the Europa League knockout phase, finishing the group stage in 24th place – the last spot leading to the playoffs.
For a team projected as a contender for the latter stages of the competition, this result falls short of expectations. Fenerbahçe finished with the same number of points as Elfsborg and Braga but advanced thanks to a superior goal difference. A 2-2 draw against Midtjylland in their final group-stage match extended their poor European run to three consecutive games without a win.
Nevertheless, José Mourinho’s team has found its rhythm in domestic competitions in recent weeks, securing victories against Rizespor, Erzurumspor, and Alanyaspor while scoring 10 goals in the process. These results have kept them in the title race and earned them a spot in the Turkish Cup semifinals, but the clash against Anderlecht will be far more crucial in defining their season.
Mourinho’s side has struggled in the first legs of European knockout rounds, losing four of their last six opening matches. The legendary Portuguese manager will aim to reverse this trend and secure a favorable result before the return leg.
The Turkish giants strengthened their squad during the January transfer window, signing Anderson Talisca and Milan Škriniar, while Filip Kostić was also included in the European squad. However, Diego Carlos, Oğuz Aydın, and Ognjen Mimović were left out. A positive development for Fenerbahçe is the return of Sofyan Amrabat and Bright Osayi-Samuel, while striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who was suspended in the previous Super Lig round, is ready for this match. En-Nesyri is in excellent form and is just one goal away from equaling the club’s record for most goals scored in a single European season.
Mourinho’s biggest concern will be defensive absences – goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, Rodrigo Becão, Jayden Oosterwolde, Alexander Djiku, Mert Müldür, and Çağlar Söyüncü are all sidelined, which could be a significant handicap against Anderlecht’s potent attack.
Anderlecht – Strong Start to the Season, but a Dip in Form Towards the End
Unlike Fenerbahçe, Anderlecht finished the Europa League group stage with four more points than the Turkish team and 14 places ahead of them in the overall rankings. The Belgian side started the competition brilliantly, collecting 14 points from their first six matches, but suffered a decline in form towards the end of the group phase. Losses to Viktoria Plzeň (0-2) and Hoffenheim (3-4) pushed them into the playoffs instead of securing a direct spot in the Round of 16.
Despite these setbacks, Anderlecht has shown solid results on the road – they earned seven points from three away games before their defeat in the Czech Republic. This will be an important factor as they head to Istanbul, where they have yet to score in three previous visits to Fenerbahçe.
The Belgian side is in good form in domestic competitions – they recently secured a place in the Belgian Cup final by defeating Antwerp 3-2 over two legs, then beat the same opponent 2-0 in the league. However, their title hopes in the Belgian championship are slim, as they trail league leaders Genk by 15 points, with their primary goal being qualification for European competitions next season.
Coach David Hubert faces some squad issues ahead of this match – experienced defender Jan Vertonghen remains out due to an ankle injury, while Sam Edozie has been sidelined since January. The good news is the return of Moussa N’Diaye from suspension, while Kasper Dolberg played his first match after a break and immediately scored twice against Antwerp.
During the January transfer window, Anderlecht lost Anders Dreyer and Zanka, who moved to MLS, but reinforced their squad with Adryelson, César Huerta, and Lucas Hey, all of whom were immediately included in the Europa League squad.
Possible Lineups
Fenerbahçe: Eğribayat; Osayi-Samuel, Škriniar, Amrabat, Kostić; Fred, Szymański; Talisca, Tadić, Saint-Maximin; En-Nesyri.
Anderlecht: Coosemans; Sardella, Hey, Adryelson, Augustinsson; Verschaeren, Dendoncker, Stroeykens; Hazard, Dolberg, Huerta.
Betting Tips
✅ Tip 1 – Fenerbahçe to Win: The Turkish side is extremely strong at home, and with their January reinforcements and Mourinho’s experience, they have the upper hand in this encounter.
✅ Both Teams to Score (BTTS – Yes): Although Anderlecht has never scored away against Fenerbahçe, they are in solid attacking form, and Dolberg is back in full strength.
✅ Youssef En-Nesyri to Score: The Moroccan striker is in excellent form and needs just one more goal to equal the club’s European season goal record.
Fenerbahçe will aim to secure a victory before the return leg in Belgium, but Anderlecht could provide a serious challenge.
