Fenerbahce vs Manchester Utd prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 19:00.
[p]Of the numerous former clubs he’s managed across his legendary managerial career, perhaps none would make a more interesting opponent for José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe side than Manchester United. Mourinho is taking on a similar job in Turkey to his post at Old Trafford as he looks to end a decade-long title drought, but a disappointing draw at the weekend left the Yellow Canaries eight points adrift of leaders and arch-rivals Galatasaray.[/p]
[p]Pressure is starting to build on Mourinho, whose side have been described as “unhappy and hopeless” by club legend Volkan Demirel. The UEFA Europa League (UEL) should prove a welcome distraction given Fenerbahçe’s positive start to the league phase (W1, D1), a record that the home faithful will be confident can be improved upon considering they’re unbeaten in their last nine UEL games at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium (W6, D3).[/p]
[p]Mourinho won the UEL in his first season as Manchester United boss back in 2017, but a victory of any description in this competition would be welcomed by current boss Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman took some of the pressure off his shoulders with a comeback 2-1 win against Brentford on Saturday, but he’ll be aware that crisis is only ever one defeat away at Old Trafford.[/p]
[p]Not least because United squandered a lead to ultimately draw both of their opening two UEL matches, and did the same on Turkish soil against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League last season. Those aren’t positive omens as the Red Devils head to Istanbul without the suspended Bruno Fernandes having lost their last two visits to Fenerbahçe and winning just one of their last ten European away matches (D4, L5)![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Fenerbahçe midfielder Dušan Tadić was singled out for praise by Mourinho recently and that should come as little surprise given that he’s directly contributed to nine goals in his last eight matches (G6, A3), including his side’s only goal on matchday two against Twente. United winger Alejandro Garnacho was on target at the weekend, and netted across the city against Galatasaray last year – his two European goals to date were both first-half match openers on the road.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Mourinho has won just two of his last 17 games against clubs he’s previously managed (D4, L11), though one of those successes was a 6-1 thumping of Man Utd in 2020.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]