Aykut Kocaman’s side take on Olympique de Marseille at the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9E%C3%BCkr%C3%BC_Saraco%C4%9Flu_Stadium in their first game of the UEFA Europa League group stages
The Yellow http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Canaries-c38723 would be desperate to end their miserable run of five European home games without a win as they take on Elie Baup’s side who despite all their problems, have a impressive recent pedigree in their European travels.
The Group C game would be the first time the two sides meet in a UEFA club competition. However, Fenerbahce should be worried about the fact that they have never really fared well against French oppositions in Europe, both home and away.
In Istanbul, Fenerbahce have won just twice in their seven European games against French sides while in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899, they have managed to win just once in eight games. Fenerbahce’s first European fixture against a Ligue 1 side came back in the 1959/60 European
Champions Clubs’ Cup where they lost 5-1 to OGC Nice in Geneva.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 on the other hand, have done reasonably well against Turkish sides. However, their most recent visit to Turkey ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Besiktas back in the 2007/2008 Champions League group stage.
The road to Europa League qualification saw Marseille eliminate Turkish side Eskişehirspor 4-1 on aggregate.
Moving on from Champions League disappointment
Fenerbahce would be keen to move on from the disappointment of not making it to the Champions League group stages after they lost the two-legged qualifier against Russian side, Spartak Moscow.
Marseille on the other hand, play in Europe’s second tier club competition after almost five years. However, Marseille should take comfort in the fact that they have lost just once in their seven UEFA Cup games. That sole defeat was at the hands of Ukrainian
giants Shakhtar Donetsk back in the 2008/09 quarterfinals.
Team facts
Nigerian international, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Everton-c39043.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Morgan-Amalfitano-c26799 and Sow played
together during the Senegal international’s time at Sedan.
Aykut Kocaman, the manager of Fenerbahce, was a renowned striker during his playing days at the club and won two league titles with them. He has been the club’s manager since 2010 and has won a domestic title and the Turkish Cup with them.
Team news
Fenerbahce
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dirk-Kuyt-c11348 has adapted well to life at his new club and will be looking to form a lethal partnership with Moussa Sow. The duo has already scored quite a few goals this season and will be looking to terrorise the Marseille defence.
Despite making a slow start to life at Fenerbahce, Milos Krasic is a bomb waiting to bang any time and is expected to start alongside fellow summer signing from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863, Mehmet Topal.
Marseille
Although he is yet to make his Ligue 1 debut owing to his suspension, Joey Barton is expected to make his Marseille debut tonight.
Predictions
For any team, playing in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Turkey-c3026 is a daunting task considering the hostile atmosphere that the fans create. Many teams have struggled to perform due to the enthusiasm of the fans and Marseille will indeed struggle under such conditions.
Predicted final score: Fenerbahce 1-0 Marseille
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