Fenerbahçe eye Europa League redemption as they host Athletic Club
Baku, December 11, AZERTAC
Fenerbahçe will host Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in a crucial Europa League group stage match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Daily Sabah reported.
The Turkish giants, currently sitting 15th in the league phase, will be looking to recover from a rollercoaster start to the competition.
Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, are flying high, sitting joint-top with Lazio and Eintracht Frankfurt and in strong contention to advance.
Fenerbahçe's Europa League campaign has been a tale of inconsistency, with two wins, two draws, and one loss from their opening five matches.
However, Fenerbahçe finally returned to winning ways in matchday five, securing a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague, with goals from Edin Dzeko and Youssef En-Nesyri.
The win lifted them three points clear of last place, reigniting their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds for the third consecutive season.
Still, manager Jose Mourinho will have to navigate a growing injury list, with Mert Hakan Yandaş and Jayden Oosterwolde sidelined, and Fred suspended for this clash.
In contrast, Athletic Bilbao head into the match full of confidence.
Ernesto Valverde's side, competing in European competition for the first time since the 2017-18 season, have been in excellent form.
With 13 points from their opening five matches, they are well-positioned to advance to the last 16.
With an unbeaten run spanning 11 matches across all competitions (W8, D3), they head to Türkiye brimming with confidence.
Athletic’s only injury concern is midfielder Ander Herrera, who will miss his third consecutive match due to a hamstring issue.
As the two teams prepare to square off in what promises to be an intense and high-stakes encounter, Fenerbahçe will look to capitalize on their home advantage while aiming to rebound from a tough domestic defeat.
Meanwhile, Athletic will be eager to maintain their winning streak and strengthen their position at the top of the group.
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