Preview: Fenerbahce vs. Union SG – prediction, team news, lineups

In an attempt to respond to the disappointing domestic defeat last time, Fenerbahce will their Europa League campaign with the visit of Union SG on Thursday evening.

The Yellow Canaries lost their league match against Galatasaray last weekend, while Les Unionistes played a goalless draw against Standard Liège in Belgium.

Match Preview

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He took over the reins of the club in June after leaving Roma in January. Jose Mourinho had been eyeing a Champions League win over Fenerbahce this season, but a back-to-back defeat to Lille in the qualifying rounds means Thursday’s home side will have to settle for Europa League entry.

Aside from that setback on the continental stage in August, the Yellow Canaries have made a steady start to the 2024-25 season. They sit second in the Turkish Super Lig, five points behind leaders Galatasaray, who are still undefeated after six games.

It was Okan Buruk‘s forces who inflicted Fenerbahce their first domestic defeat of the term on Saturday night, when goals from former Arsenal player Lucas TorreiraBelgian legend Dries Mertens and former Norwich City playmaker Gabriel Sara led the visitors to a 3-1 victory.

Before the weekend’s defeat to the champions, the Yellow Canaries had been on a run of three straight Super Lig wins, scoring 10 goals in the three games against Rizespor, Alanyaspor and Kasimpasa, all without a goalkeeper. Dominik Livakovic is broken through on the other side.

Fenerbahce were one of the big boys in the Europa Conference League last season. The Turkish giants defeated Union SG in the round of 16 to qualify for a quarter-final against Olympiacos, who reached the last four thanks to a successful penalty shootout.

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Union SG finished second behind champions Club Brugge in the 2023-24 Belgian Pro League to secure a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds. But like Thursday’s defeat to hosts Fenerbahce, the visitors were knocked out of UEFA’s top club division after a 4-1 defeat to Slavia Prague.

Since their defeat to the Czech giants on 13 August, which saw them drop out of the Europa League, Les Unionistes have lost just one of their five Pro League matches. However, they are currently without a win in four matches, three of which ended in goalless draws against Sint-Truiden, Anderlecht and most recently Standard Liège.

Given their shyness in front of goal, it’s no surprise that the two-goal forward and summer signing Mohammed Fuseini leads the battle for the Golden Boot for Union SG, with the 22-year-old bringing Europa League experience with his time at Austrian side Sturm Graz, who now compete in the revamped Champions League.

After eight games in the Pro League campaign, Les Unionistes are 12th in the 16-team division, just one point above Sint-Truiden, who occupy the top spot in the relegation play-offs, a fate currently unthinkable for Sebastien Pocognoli‘s men.

Although their most recent league title dates back to 1935, Union SG have recently developed a winning culture in cup competitions in preparation for this season’s Europa League, with Thursday’s visitors winning both the 2024 Belgian Cup and Belgian Super Cup.

Form Fenerbahce (all competitions):

Union SG form (all competitions):

Team News

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Fenerbahce remain without the services of the former Queens Park Rangers striker Bright Osayi-Samuelwith the 26-year-old expected to return from a foot injury next month.

He scored a consolation goal in the second half from 11 yards against Galatasaray, Edin Dzeko should maintain his place at the heart of the Yellow Canaries’ attack.

The Turkish hosts have a wealth of European know-how in their ranks, including: Sofia Amrabat And Youssef And Nesyri to compete for a place in the team after starting on the bench on Saturday.

Fuseini, Union SG’s best shooter, received his marching orders during the loss to Slavia Prague in August and is therefore suspended for this match.

The Unionists cannot rely on the talents of Henok Teklabwho aims to return to football in the new year after breaking his leg.

Possible Fenerbahce line-up:
Livaković; Muldur, Djiku, Soyuncu, Oosterwolde; Fred, Amrabat; Tadic, Szymanski, Saint-Maximin; Dzeko

Possible line-up of Union SG:
Morris; Burgess, Machida, Leysen; Castro-Montes, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, Rasmussen, Terho; Ivanovic, Akinpelu

We say: Fenerbahce 2-0 Union SG

Apart from the match against Galatasaray on Saturday, Fenerbahce have been formidable so far in the 2024-25 season and should be confident of beating Union SG on home soil with ease.

Les Unionistes are struggling in their own country and will not be able to count on the talent of Fuseini in attack on Thursday. That means we can expect a difficult evening for the Belgians in Istanbul.

For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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