Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise: Lineups, form, key stats for Europa League

Fenerbahce will face Union Saint-Gilloise in their UEFA Europa League opener at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.

After the challenging derby loss against Galatasaray, Mourinho emphasized the need to start the Europa League campaign positively.

He addressed his absence from the post-match press conference, citing organizational delays as the reason.

“I have never avoided a press conference because of a loss in my 24-year career. We felt the pain of the loss, but it must serve as motivation,” he stated.

Now, Fenerbahce aims to rebound with a strong performance in the Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match.

Fenerbahce’s recent form, team dynamics for UEFA Europa League

Fenerbahce comes into this match with a solid recent record, winning seven out of their last ten matches.

The only blemish is their recent loss against Galatasaray. They have performed well at home, winning three of their last four matches. Coach Jose Mourinho will be keen to start the European campaign with a strong showing.

• Recent Record: Fenerbahce has won 7 of their last 10 matches, with their only recent home loss coming against Galatasaray in the Intercontinental Derby.
• Scoring Power: The team has scored 11 goals in their last four matches, with Edin Dzeko leading the charge with 9 goals this season. Dusan Tadic and Fred have also been significant contributors, each scoring 3 goals.
• Defensive Solidity: Fenerbahce has kept 8 clean sheets in their last 10 home games, averaging just 1.2 goals conceded per game.

Key absences, lineup expectations for Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match:

• Missing players: New signings Levent Mercan, Oguz Aydin, and Filip Kostic are not included in the Europa League squad, while Ryan Kent and Bartug Elmaz are unavailable for selection.
• Expected lineup: Dominik Livakovic in goal; Osayi-Samuel, Becao, Djiku, and Oosterwolde in defense; Fred, Amrabat, and Irfan Can in midfield; Szymanski, Tadic, and En-Nesyri in attack.

New signing Sofyan Amrabat stressed the team’s ambition to win the UEFA Europa League.

“Our dream is to win this tournament, but achieving this depends on many factors. We are Fenerbahce players, and we want to win every match and bring trophies,” he stated.

Union Saint-Gilloise’s struggles and tactical approach

Union Saint-Gilloise has been struggling, winless in their last six games, which places them in a difficult position ahead of this European tie. They have faced challenges both in scoring and defending, making this a tough matchup against a solid Fenerbahce side.

• Recent Record: Union has managed just one win in their last eight games, drawing three and losing four. They have not won any of their last six away games, losing three.
• Offensive Weakness: The team has found the net only once in their last six matches, averaging just 0.8 goals per game over their last 10 games.
• Defensive Concerns: They have conceded 1.1 goals per game on average in their last ten league matches, highlighting vulnerabilities in their backline.

En balade à Istanbul. 🇹🇷

Our squad to take on Fenerbahçe in Kadiköy. ⬇️#FBvUSG pic.twitter.com/VFBIyPpnha

— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) September 26, 2024

Key absences, lineup expectations for Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match

• Missing Players: Teklab and Kabangu are out with injuries, while Fuseini is suspended for this match.
• Expected Lineup: Anthony Moris in goal; Burgess, Machida, and Leysen in defense; Castro, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, and Rasmussen in midfield; Ait El Hadj, Ivanovic, and Rodríguez leading the attack.

Historical context, previous encounters

Fenerbahce and Union Saint-Gilloise have faced each other twice before, with both teams securing one win each.

Last season, the Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise ended with Fenerbahce’s 3-0 victory in the UEFA Conference League knockout stage, but lost 1-0 in the return leg.

• UEFA record: Fenerbahce has faced Belgian opposition five times in European competitions, losing only once. Their defeat against Union SG last season was a wake-up call for the Turkish side.
• Home advantage: Fenerbahce has been solid at home in European matches, losing only one of their last 19 UEFA Europa League home fixtures.

Mourinho’s tactical approach to Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match

Mourinho plans to rotate players and alter team dynamics to better prepare for the match.

He mentioned the importance of analyzing both the derby and the upcoming fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise.

Mourinho remains confident that this change in strategy, paired with strong preparation, will help Fenerbahce achieve their goal of a successful Europa League start.

What to expect from the Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match

Fenerbahce is expected to dominate possession and press for an early goal, leveraging their home advantage and offensive firepower. Union Saint-Gilloise will likely focus on defensive solidity and look for counter-attacking opportunities.

However, given their recent struggles, they will need a significant improvement to challenge Fenerbahce on their home turf.

Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match details

• Date and time: September 26, 19:45 at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
• Broadcast in Türkiye: Live coverage will be available on TRT 1 and Tabii platforms.

Analysis, predictions for Fenerbahce vs Union Saint-Gilloise match

Fenerbahce’s superior form, home advantage, and attacking depth make them the clear favorites to start their Europa League campaign with a win.

Union Saint-Gilloise’s lack of goals and recent struggles suggest a challenging evening ahead for the Belgian side.

Fenerbahce’s Dzeko and Tadic will probably be pivotal in breaking down the Union defense, and the Turkish side will aim to secure a convincing victory to build momentum in the group stage.