Fenerbahce vs Royale Union SG prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-25 16:45.
[p]Fenerbahçe and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise are familiar foes having also clashed in the Europa Conference League round of 16 last season. They’ll meet again here in the UEFA Europa League’s (UEL) new league format with the home side looking to restore some pride after a morale-damaging 3-1 home defeat to rivals Galatasaray this past weekend, ending what was an impressive run of no defeat since November in the Turkish Süper Lig.[/p]
[p]Fenerbahçe should be confident they can get back on track as they hold the psychological edge after getting the better of their Belgium visitors earlier this year (3-1), despite losing the first leg at this venue 1-0. They’ve also never tasted defeat against a Belgium outfit in this competition (W2, D2), impressively scoring 2+ goals in all four of their previous such matches. [/p]
[p]Royale Union travel to Turkey in faltering form, heaping pressure on new manager SĂ©bastien Pocognoli who only took charge this summer. They’ve not won a game since the middle of August (D3, L1), with the Belgium side’s attack clearly struggling – the visitors have scored just one goal across their past six competitive matches, and none across their previous four! [/p]
[p]Their only saving grace is their solidity at the other end of the pitch, keeping a clean sheet in three of those four games. That could help Union avoid suffering a third consecutive defeat in European competitions for the first time since way back in 1964, but no win in their past five away outings in this competition (D3, L2) will surely cause some trepidation within the travelling party that such an unwanted run could come to fruition. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sebastian SzymaĹ„ski proved a real threat in the Conference League for Fenerbahçe last term, registering four assists – a return bettered by just one player across the competition proper. With just one goal so far this season, Union fans will hope to see more from forward Eckert Ayensa who recently returned from injury – he netted their last UEL away goal back in August 2023 against Lugano. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Union failed to score a single goal across their three away group matches in this competition last term. [/p]
[p][i]Written by David H[/i][/p]