Fenerbahçe vs Manchester United: Europa League Clash Sees Jose Mourinho Face Former Club

On Thursday, October 24, Fenerbahçe will host Manchester United in a highly anticipated UEFA Europa League match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. This encounter marks a significant reunion as Jose Mourinho, the current Fenerbahçe manager, faces his former club Manchester United for the first time since his departure in 2018.

Mourinho, known for his witty remarks, joked about his past tenure at Manchester United during the pre-match press conference. He humorously suggested that if Manchester City were to be punished for any infractions, he hoped Manchester United would award him a Premier League winners’ medal and the associated bonus from the 2017/18 season.

The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams not at full strength. Fenerbahçe has suffered several key injuries, including left-back Jayden Oosterwolde who ruptured his ACL, and other absentees such as Filip Kostic, Oguz Aydin, Bartug Elmaz, and Levent Mercan. Sofyan Amrabat and Fred, both former Manchester United midfielders, are likely to start for Fenerbahçe.

Manchester United, under the management of Erik ten Hag, will be without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and the injured Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, and Luke Shaw. The predicted lineup for Manchester United includes André Onana in goal, a defensive line of Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Victor Lindelöf, and Lisandro Martínez, with Christian Eriksen, Alejandro Garnacho, and Marcus Rashford in the attacking roles.

The match will be live-streamed on Paramount+ and is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET. The odds favor Manchester United slightly, with Fenerbahçe at +185, a draw at +240, and Manchester United at +130.

Predictions suggest a high-scoring and intense game, with many analysts expecting a draw or a narrow victory for either side. The historical head-to-head record between the two teams is evenly split, with each having three wins and no draws.