Sabasports Match Preview
UEFA Champions League Qualification: Fenerbahce vs Lille
Kickoff Time: 2023-08-14 01:00(HKT)
Source: REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
In last weekend’s Turkish Super Lig, Fenerbahce secured a narrow 1-0 victory at home against Adana Demirspor, marking a successful start to the league campaign. However, in the previous round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Fenerbahce suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat away to Lille, which was undoubtedly a major blow for the team. This summer, Fenerbahce not only hired Jose Mourinho with a high salary to take the helm but also invested heavily in new signings, significantly enhancing the team’s overall strength. At the same time, Mourinho’s tactical approach at Fenerbahce goes beyond the traditional defensive counter-attacks, as he also seeks new possibilities in the attacking phase. In the last five matches, Fenerbahce has scored 13 goals, showcasing Mourinho’s formidable attacking power. Additionally, Fenerbahce’s home ground has been a stronghold, with the team winning all of their last nine home matches, making it a veritable fortress.
This summer, Lille underwent significant changes, with the departure of their midfield anchor, Leny Yoro, to Manchester United, which undoubtedly weakened the team’s overall strength. However, the most significant change for Lille was in the head coach position, with Bruno Genesio taking over as the new manager this summer. Genesio’s tactical philosophy favors attacking football, which is somewhat at a disadvantage tactically compared to Mourinho’s defensive counter-attacking style. However, in the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers, Lille secured a narrow 2-1 victory at home. While there was an element of luck in the result, the team still achieved a good start to the new season and gained the upper hand in the two-legged tie. It is worth noting that, as Ligue 1 has yet to begin, Lille is currently only competing in the Champions League qualifiers, which gives them a physical advantage.
Although Fenerbahce lost 1-2 in the first leg, this was largely due to their own mistakes and an own goal. In the second leg, returning to their home ground, Fenerbahce not only has the strong support of their home crowd, but Mourinho’s Champions League experience will also play a crucial role. Moreover, Mourinho’s tactical style tends to counter Bruno Genesio’s approach to some extent. Considering all these factors, Fenerbahce is favored to stage a comeback and secure victory in this match.
Fenerbahce’s Last 5 Games: WLWWW
24-08-03 Fenerbahce 1-0 Adana Demirspor
24-08-07 Lille 2-1 Fenerbahce
24-07-20 Fenerbahce 2-1 Lugano
24-07-24 Lugano 3-4 Fenerbahce
24-07-19 Fenerbahce 5-1 Hull City
Lille’s Last 5 Games: WWLDW
24-08-07 Lille 2-1 Fenerbahce
24-07-10 Lille 3-1 Celta Vigo
24-05-19 Wolfsburg 1-0 Lille
24-05-11 Genk 2-2 Lille
24-05-04 Gent 0-1 Lille
Head To Head Record:
24-08-07 Lille 2-1 Fenerbahce
10-02-26 Fenerbahce 1-1 Lille
10-02-19 Lille 2-1 Fenerbahce
Prediction: Fenerbahce to win