Fenerbahce and Manchester United will aim to continue the unbeaten start to their UEFA Europa League campaigns when they clash at Şükrü Saracoğlu on Thursday.
The UEFA Europa League resumes this week with Matchday 3 of the 2024/25 season. The most eye-catching fixture of the latest round of fixtures will pit Fenerbahce against Manchester United at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, with Jose Mourinho hosting his former club on Thursday night.
Fenerbahce reached the first phase of the UEFA Europa League after failing to qualify for the Champions League and falling to LOSC Lille in the final qualification round. Jose Mourinho’s men have done well thus far in Europe, beating Union Saint-Gilloise on Matchday 1 before holding FC Twente to a 1-1 draw. However, the Turkish giants are lagging in the Super Lig title race, as they are fourth in the standings after eight outings.
As for Manchester United, they qualified for the UEFA Europa League by winning the FA Cup last season. However, the Red Devils have not been at their best in Europe thus far, dropping points in both games, with the matches against FC Twente and FC Porto. Meanwhile, they returned to winning ways this past weekend by coming from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1.
The most recent clash between Fenerbahce and Manchester United in Istanbul ended in a 2-1 win for the Yellow Canaries. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fenerbahce
Jose Mourinho has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Thursday, the Fenerbahce manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players.
Jayden Oosterwolde is the latest absentee, with the Dutch defender rupturing his ACL this past weekend. The 23-year-old has joined Cengiz Under (groin), Ismail Yuksek (shoulder), Bright Osayi-Samuel (foot), and Irfan Can Egribayat (muscle) on the sidelines. In addition, Filip Kostic, Oguz Aydin, Bartug Elmaz, and Levent Mercan are not in the Europa League squad.
Dominik Livakovic will take his spot between the sticks, with Fenerbahce lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Manchester United on Thursday. The backline should feature Alexander Djiku, Caglar Soyuncu, Rodrigo Becao, and Mert Muldur.
As for the midfield unit, former Manchester United midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Fred will pair up in the double pivot. Sebastian Szymanski will reprise the no. 10 role, with Dusan Tadic and Allan Saint-Maximin being the two wide attackers. Finally, Youssef En-Nesyri will lead the line for the home side against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Djiku, Soyuncu, Becao, Muldur; Amrabat, Fred; Tadic, Szymanski, Saint-Maximin; En-Nesyri
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the Fenerbahce dugout, Erik ten Hag has new roster issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The Manchester United manager will be without eight first-team players.
Bruno Fernandes is the latest absentee, with the Manchester United captain serving a suspension after seeing red against FC Porto. Erik ten Hag was sweating over the fitness of Matthijs de Ligt and Casemiro, but the duo is in the travelling squad.
Meanwhile, Leny Yoro (foot), Harry Maguire (muscle), Luke Shaw (calf), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Kobbie Mainoo (muscle), Mason Mount (knock) and Toby Collyer (unspecified) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Fenerbahce on Thursday. The backline will feature Noussair Mazraoui, Matthis de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Bruno Fernandes’s absence means Christian Eriksen will reprise the no. 10 role. Finally, Joshua Zirkzee should lead the line for the away side against Fenerbahce, with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Casemiro; Diallo, Eriksen, Rashford; Zirkzee
Key Stats
- Fenerbahce have alternated between a loss and a win across their six previous meetings with Manchester United, most recently winning 2-1 at home in the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League group stage. The Red Devils have lost on their two most recent trips to take on Fenerbahce in all competitions, losing 0-3 in December 2004 and 1-2 in November 2016.
- Fenerbahce are unbeaten in their last seven home games in the UEFA Europa League (W4 D3), winning four of their most recent five.
- Manchester United have won just one of their ten most recent matches in major European competition (D4 L5). They are without a win in five outings (D3 L2), last having a longer run between 1980 and 1983 (6).
- Jose Mourinho has won just two of his 17 of his most recent matches against clubs he has previously managed (D4 L11), although one of those was a 6-1 victory against Manchester United with Tottenham Hotspur in October 2020.
Player to Watch
Manuel Ugarte
Ugarte has endured a trial by fire since joining Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window. A horrendous showing against Tottenham Hotspur has meant that the Uruguayan international has had to work his way back into the thick of things.
A knock during the international break meant he was not ready to feature from the get-go against Brentford this past weekend. However, Ugarte will get his opportunity on Thursday, and Erik ten Hag needs him to deliver the goods against an all-action Fenerbahce midfield. Failure to do so will mean the away side might crumble in another European outing.
Prediction
Fenerbahce 2-2 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho will be salivating at the prospect of taking on Manchester United and getting one over his former club, as he usually does when his teams meet one of his ex-sides. So, a cagey affair is on the cards, and the match should go down the wire.
With both teams having vulnerable defensive units, an end-to-end game is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts Fenerbahce and Manchester United to cancel each other out, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw.