Fenerbahçe Hosts Athletic Bilbao in UEFA Europa League Match

Fenerbahçe is set to host Athletic Bilbao in the 6th week of the UEFA Europa League on December 11, 2024. The match will take place at Ülker Stadı and is scheduled to start at 18:30 local time. The game will be broadcast on TRT 1 and will be refereed by Irfan Peljto from the Bosna Hersek Futbol Federasyonu.

Fenerbahçe, who recently defeated Slavia Prag 2-1 away, enters the match with 8 points from 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, placing them 15th in the league phase. Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, has 13 points from 4 wins and 1 draw, positioning them second in their group due to their superior goal difference. The Spanish team is also on an 11-match unbeaten streak across La Liga and European competitions.

Athletic Bilbao has been performing well in La Liga, currently sitting in fourth place with 32 points from 17 matches, including 9 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. They have scored 26 goals and conceded 15. Key players for Athletic Bilbao include Ohian Sancet with 7 goals, and Gorka Guruzeta and Inaki Williams with 4 goals each.

Fenerbahçe will face some challenges as they will be without several key players. Jayden Oosterwolde and Mert Hakan Yandaş are out due to injuries, while Fred Rodrigues is suspended due to a yellow card. Additionally, players like Filip Kostic, Oğuz Aydın, Bartuğ Elmaz, and Levent Mercan are not included in the UEFA list and will not participate in the match.

Coach Jose Mourinho has expressed his team’s determination to win the match, especially after losing the derby against Beşiktaş over the weekend. A victory against Athletic Bilbao would not only boost morale but also keep Fenerbahçe in contention for the top eight spots in the Europa League.