On Thursday, October 24, Fenerbahçe will face Manchester United at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul in the third round of the Europa League league stage.
Both teams are known for their attacking quality but have struggled defensively, making this an intriguing matchup where either side could take advantage.
Fenerbahçe
Under the guidance of José Mourinho, Fenerbahçe has earned four points from their first two Europa League matches. They secured a 2-1 win against Union and followed that with a 1-1 draw away to Twente, where Dusan Tadic’s late goal saved a point. Domestically, they are 4th in the Turkish Super Lig, with 17 points from eight games. Their most recent league outing ended in a 2-2 draw away to Samsunspor.
Manchester United
Manchester United’s inconsistent form has been a talking point, with speculation about manager Erik ten Hag’s future continuing. Despite a 2-1 comeback win over Brentford last weekend, where goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund saved the day, United sits 12th in the Premier League. In the Europa League, they’ve drawn both of their matches, 1-1 against Twente and 3-3 against Porto.
Player to Watch
While Fenerbahçe’s Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel might miss out due to injury, Nigerian fans will be keeping a close eye on Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United.
Related article: The Salary of Joshua Zirkzee: The Netherland’s Young Striker of Nigerian Descent
The Dutch striker, who has Nigerian roots, has had limited playing time this season, logging just 49 minutes in the Premier League. He made a substitute appearance in the Europa League match against Porto, coming on in the 68th minute. Given Manchester United’s inconsistency, this game could be Zirkzee’s chance to prove his worth and earn more playing time under Ten Hag. A strong showing here could put him in contention for future matches. The odds that Zirkzee find the back of the net are 2.625 according to 1xBet.
Prediction
Both sides have plenty of attacking options but remain vulnerable at the back. Given recent performances, there’s a decent chance one of these teams won’t find the net. Fenerbahçe’s strong home support and United’s shaky away form could lead to the Turkish side focusing on defensive solidity, potentially frustrating United’s efforts to score.
Betting Tip
For this match, betting on “Both Teams to Score – No” seems a solid option. 1xBet is offering odds of 2.359 for this market, providing good value considering the circumstances.
