Fenerbahce Faces Tough Challenge in Europa League Knockout Stage

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Fenerbahce is set to face a formidable opponent in the first leg of the Europa League knockout stage on Tuesday, February 11. The Turkish club, which currently boasts an impressive unbeaten streak of 12 matches in the domestic league, will be looking to secure a place in the last 16 of the tournament after narrowly qualifying for the playoff round.

Fenerbahce’s recent form includes a 2-0 victory over Alanyaspor, propelling them into a confident position for the upcoming match. However, the club’s European performance has been less convincing; they managed only two wins in their group stage, with just one coming on home turf.

Head coach Jorge Jesus will face a challenge as defensive stalwart Caglar Soyuncu is ruled out due to injury sustained in the recent league win. Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat stepped in for Soyuncu and could be expected to partner with Milan Skriniar and Alexander Djiku in the backline.

Fenerbahce scraped into the playoffs with a narrow goal difference, edging out Braga and Elfsborg to secure the last qualifying spot. Their ability to capitalize on home advantage may be crucial as they look to build momentum against their opponents.

Meanwhile, Anderlecht narrowly missed direct entry into the knockout stage, finishing outside the top eight due to two consecutive losses in their group. Despite a solid start to the competition, their inconsistent domestic form has seen them drop to fourth in the Belgian table. Still, a place in the Belgian Cup final against rivals Club Brugge provides some hope for Anderlecht as they approach this clash.

In Hungary, Ferencvaros is undergoing a turbulent phase under new manager Robbie Keane. Since his appointment last month, Ferencvaros has only managed one win out of five matches, although that victory was a dramatic 4-3 win over AZ Alkmaar. The club faces further complications with regular goalkeeper Denes Dibusz sidelined, potentially leaving Adam Varga to step up.

The playoff round also sees Ajax taking on Union SG. With Ajax enjoying a six-match winning streak, the Dutch giants will be eager to continue their impressive run, but they will miss forward Mika Godts. Union SG’s challenge lies in their home unbeaten streak—eight wins out of ten at Stade Joseph Marien—setting up an intriguing matchup.

Real Sociedad, fresh from their Copa del Rey semi-final win over Osasuna, hopes to carry that momentum into their Europa League tie. However, they must address their away form, and crucial injuries could hinder their progress.

In Porto, the home side is managing a difficult campaign. Currently, under new management, Porto is seeking redemption after falling short in domestic competitions. Key injuries will test their squad depth as they prepare to face Roma, who come into the match without injury concerns but struggle with away form.

Twente and Bodø/Glimt are also in action, both teams trying to carry their recent domestic successes into European play. Bodø/Glimt’s challenge is compounded by player absences, while Twente relies on their strong home performance to boost their chances.

In a replay of earlier encounters, Alkmaar will host Galatasaray, and both teams have much at stake as they aim to gain momentum in the knockout rounds. Alkmaar’s home form has been strong, while Galatasaray looks to bounce back from a bizarre match that was abandoned last week.

Lastly, PAOK, in pursuit of a strong bounce-back against Steaua Bucharest, enters with a favorable recent victory but must improve their home performance to ensure progression.