Fenerbahçe step into Thursday’s Europa League showdown in opposition to Slavia Prague with a one-point edge within the standings, however their margin for error is razor-thin.
Both groups, hovering simply contained in the playoff zone halfway via the league part, are determined to rebound from current setbacks.
The Istanbul giants endured a irritating 2-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar of their final Europa outing, snapping a 10-game unbeaten streak within the competitors’s group stage.
Despite Youssef En-Nesyri’s second-half strike that briefly pulled them degree, defensive lapses proved expensive.
However, buoyed by a formidable home run, together with 10 objectives scored throughout their final two Turkish Süper Lig victories, the Yellow Canaries sit second of their league standings and stay simply 4 factors adrift of the Europa League’s prime eight automated qualifiers.
Familiar foe
Fenerbahçe’s historical past with Czech opponents is basically favorable, however recollections of their February 2022 losses to Slavia within the Conference League playoffs nonetheless sting.
A pair of 3-2 defeats on the time underscore the stakes of this pivotal rematch, the place a slip might threaten their European ambitions.
Coach Jose Mourinho faces defensive challenges forward of the Prague encounter. Brazilian center-back Rodrigo Becao is suspended, and Çağlar Söyüncü stays sidelined with a muscular harm, leaving Samet Akaydin and Alexander Djiku because the doubtless duo to anchor the backline.
Midfield will doubtless see ex-Manchester United duo Fred and Sofyan Amrabat pulling the strings, whereas the assault hinges on veteran Edin Dzeko or in-form Youssef En-Nesyri, who has netted in his final two Europa League video games.
Slavia’s uphill battle
Slavia Prague arrive with a blended bag of outcomes. Their Europa League marketing campaign began promisingly with a 2-0 win over Ludogorets however has since sputtered.
Successive away losses to Athletic Bilbao and Eintracht Frankfurt, regardless of dominating possession and makes an attempt, left the Czech champions in peril of lacking the competitors’s prime 24.
Domestically, Slavia stay a juggernaut.
Two emphatic four-goal wins following their German defeat have fortified their lead within the Czech First League. Sitting eight factors away from Viktoria Plzen, they give the impression of being well-poised to reclaim the title from metropolis rivals Sparta Prague.
Coach Jindrich Trpisovsky will discipline a virtually full-strength squad, with the trio of Lukas Provod, Tomas Chory, and Mojmir Chytil spearheading the assault.
Chytil, specifically, has been electrical, scoring 4 occasions in two league video games across the worldwide break. Slovakian star Ivan Schranz and playmaker Christos Zafeiris add depth to Slavia’s offensive arsenal.
For Fenerbahçe, Thursday is not only about revenge but in addition survival. With 4 matches left, a win would tighten their grip on a playoff berth whereas protecting their hopes of automated qualification alive.
Meanwhile, Slavia goal to keep away from an ignominious third straight European defeat – a feat not endured since 1996 – and safe a lifeline within the competitors.
Source: www.dailysabah.com