The Turkish giants led by the Special One — Jose Mourinho, will battle against Rangers, another powerhouse from Scotland, for a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League. The first leg will take place on March 6, 2023, at Ülker Stadium Şükrü Saracoğlu in Turkey. Africa Football editor Bill Eshun looks into upcoming clash.
Key Facts
- Six of Rangers’ last seven UEL games saw both teams score.
- Fenerbahçe have never lost against a Scottish opponent (W1 D3).
Match Overview
Fenerbahçe have been in superb form in the Turkish Süper Lig this season, going on an impressive 18-game unbeaten run (W13 D5) and remaining strong contenders for a 20th league title. They will be confident heading into this matchup after comfortably dispatching Anderlecht 3-0, making it eight wins from their last nine home games.
Rangers come into this tie on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Motherwell and will be eager to return to winning ways.
Alexander Djiku Returns and Ready for Action
Experienced defender Alexander Djiku is back to full fitness after a short injury layoff and is in contention to start, especially with injuries affecting other defenders like Diego Carlos and Rodrigo Becão. Djiku has made 18 league appearances so far, along with six outings in the Europa League this season. He will be the key figure in marshalling Mourinho’s defense on Thursday night.
The Odds
Fenerbahçe’s chances of winning are currently priced at 1.71 according to 1xBet, while Rangers’ odds stand at 4.99. A draw is priced at 4.37.
Prediction
Given Fenerbahçe’s strong home form, they are expected to secure a comfortable victory.
Scoreline Prediction: Fenerbahçe 3-1 Rangers
