🔊 Will Feyenoord's narrow lead be enough in their Champions League qualifying second leg against Fenerbahce? The Dutch side faces a challenging trip to one of Istanbul's most intense venues – the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Last year, the Turkish hosts couldn't finish off French side Lille here and had to settle for the Europa League. Can the "Canaries" advance to the semifinals this time? Let's dive into our prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 In recent history, the teams have faced each other three times: two matches took place during the group stage of the 2016/17 UEFA Cup, both ending in narrow victories for the Turkish side. The third encounter was last week, where Feyenoord celebrated a 2-1 win.

Fenerbahce Istanbul Team Overview

🟡 Despite the final scoreline (1-2), José Mourinho and his squad put on a decent display in Rotterdam. They dominated possession with 56% compared to Feyenoord's 44%, and although they had fewer attempts on goal (8 shots to 13), they edged out on expected goals with an xG of 0.8 to 0.78. With the Turkish Super Lig not kicking off until August 16, Mourinho is meticulously preparing his team for the upcoming game, without the distraction of league matches or friendlies.

🔵 In the first leg against Feyenoord, most of the summer signings got a run-out. Milan Škriniar (€7 million from PSG) and Sofyan Amrabat (€12 million from Fiorentina) started and delivered solid performances—Amrabat found the back of the net, while Škriniar was rated as Fenerbahçe's third-best player with a score of 7.10. John Durán (on loan from Al-Nassr) and Nélson Semedo (free agent from Wolverhampton) also made appearances in the second half, but didn't make notable contributions.

Feyenoord Rotterdam Team Overview

🔴 Robin van Persie's squad capitalized on their opportunities in the home fixture against Fenerbahce and head to Turkey with a slim goal advantage. Sandwiched between their Champions League clashes, the Dockers faced Breda in the Eredivisie—a team that finished in the lower tier last season. The Rotterdam side displayed dominance with 58% possession compared to 42% and nearly tripled their opponents in shots (20 to 7), securing a 2-0 victory.

⚪️ Feyenoord have remained resilient despite the departures of key players from last season—David Hancko (€30 million to Atletico) and Igor Paixao (€30 million to Marseille). New signings are beginning to make their mark: defenders Anel Ahmedhodzic (€6.9 million from Sheffield United) and Tsuyoshi Watanabe (€8 million from Gent) have each played 90 minutes in two official matches. Additionally, in the home match against Fenerbahce, a newly formed partnership shone through as winger Anis Hadj Moussa scored with an assist from newcomer full-back Jordan Bos (€5 million from Westerlo).

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Fenerbahce Istanbul

🎙 "I'm very pleased with my players' performance. Especially in the second half, this magnificent stadium fell silent. Our opponents, who are a strong team, faced difficulties. We dominated the match. I've won second legs against Feyenoord before. I believe we can do it again. Welcome to Kadıköy (the district in Istanbul where Fenerbahçe is based), welcome to hell," said José Mourinho after the match.

Feyenoord Rotterdam

🎙 Robin van Persie, who spent three seasons playing on the Asian side of Istanbul, paid tribute to his former club: "It's a great matchup. Honestly, when I saw the possible opponents, I had a feeling we would face Fenerbahce. This club holds a special place for me. Of course, now I'll be an opponent not as a Fenerbahce fan, but as the coach of Feyenoord. We have a job to do, and that's to advance through this round."

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs. Over his last 10 matches, Kovacs has averaged 4.4 yellow cards and throughout his career, he's known for a high card count: 5.2 in the Champions League, 5.1 in the Europa League, and 5.4 in the Romanian Superliga, where he has officiated nearly 300 matches. Considering three yellow cards were shown in the previous game under a less strict referee, as well as the significance of the upcoming match, a total of over 4 yellow cards seems a reasonable bet.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Both teams ranked second in scoring in their respective leagues last season (Fenerbahce with 90 goals against Feyenoord's 76). Feyenoord's away status shouldn't be a concern: they've scored in six consecutive away matches in the Champions League, while the Turkish side has conceded in their last six home games. We foresee both teams finding the net in this encounter – both teams to score (yes).

🚩 Corner Prediction

Feyenoord doesn't heavily rely on corner kicks, averaging just 3 corners over their last 12 matches. Fenerbahce's average is significantly higher at 5.7 over their past 11 games. Despite playing their last two matches at home, Feyenoord couldn't exceed their average even against a weaker Breda side. We suggest basing predictions on the visitors' results and betting on under 3.5 corners for Feyenoord.

Bookmakers clearly favor Fenerbahce with nearly threefold advantage in the odds. The Turkish side boasts a significantly stronger squad, although not all players have hit their stride or optimal physical condition yet. In contrast, Robin van Persie's acquisition has been impactful from the start, proving capable of playing full 90-minute matches effectively. Additionally, the "Dockers" have won 12 of their last 13 games (including seven out of eight away) with a margin of at least one and a half goals. Considering the history of head-to-head encounters, we anticipate a close scoreline in Istanbul—predicting a 2-1 victory for the hosts. We suggest taking advantage of the Dutch side's underdog status and betting on Feyenoord to win with a (+1.5) handicap.