Fenerbahce vs Nice: Preview, Predictions, Team News, Lineups
Fenerbahce and Nice are set to clash in an important Europa League match, both seeking their first points. This encounter takes place on Thursday, marking matchday two of the tournament.
Match Background
Fenerbahce began their Europa League campaign on a sour note, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb. In contrast, Nice fell 2-1 at home to AS Roma during their opening round. Both teams are under pressure to improve their standings after disappointing starts.
Fenerbahce Form and Strategy
Fenerbahce, managed by Domenico Tedesco, has faced criticism from fans following the loss to Dinamo. Supporters expressed their frustrations and even called for Tedesco’s resignation. However, the team rebounded impressively with a 2-0 victory over Antalyaspor, demonstrating offensive strength by taking 19 shots, 11 of which were on target.
The Yellow Canaries maintained 67% possession during the Antalyaspor match, completing 526 passes with 93% accuracy. Despite this positive performance, Thursday’s game represents a significant challenge, especially considering Fenerbahce has not lost its first two European matches since the 2001-02 Champions League campaign. Historically, this is the sixth competitive meeting between Fenerbahce and Nice, with Nice holding a slight advantage with three wins. Notably, Fenerbahce has won both previous home fixtures against Nice.
Nice’s Recent Struggles
Nice also aims to turn around their early-season struggles. They finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season but faced disappointment in the Champions League qualifiers, losing 4-0 to Benfica. Their current campaign has not improved, as they have managed only two wins in nine matches, suffering six losses. After a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Paris FC, their winless streak has extended to three matches.
Adding to their woes, Nice has a concerning record in the Europa League, having lost their last ten away matches. They must resolve these issues quickly to avoid falling further behind.
Team News
- Fenerbahce welcomes back Edson Alvarez and Anderson Talisca, who missed the first match due to injury and suspension, respectively.
- Colombian striker Jhon Duran is back in training but may not play yet.
- Sebastian Szymanski is in excellent form, having scored in the last two matches and netting three times in recent European outings.
- For Nice, Hicham Boudaoui is a doubt after an injury in the last league match.
- Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed Abdelmonem remain unavailable due to injuries.
- Tanguy Ndombele’s status is uncertain as he missed the last fixture due to a knock.
Predicted Lineups
Fenerbahce’s Possible Starting XI
- Ederson
- Semedo
- Oosterworlde
- Skriniar
- Brown
- Yuksek
- Asensio
- Szymanski
- Talisca
- Akturkoglu
- En-Nesyri
Nice’s Possible Starting XI
- Diouf
- Mendy
- Bombito
- Oppong
- Clauss
- Samed
- Vanhoutte
- Abdi
- Diop
- Moffi
- Cho
Match Prediction
The prediction leans towards a 2-1 victory for Fenerbahce. The team’s recent home performance and attacking prowess, coupled with Nice’s poor away record in European fixtures, boosts Fenerbahce’s chances in this critical match.
