Fenerbahçe 3-0 Anderlecht
Jose Mourinho's squad, aiming for a spot in the Round of 16, hosted Belgian side Anderlecht in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs. Fenerbahçe secured a commanding 3-0 win, gaining a significant advantage ahead of the return leg.
Determined to take the upper hand in Europe’s second-tier competition, Fenerbahçe dominated the match. Goals from Tadic, Dzeko, and En-Nesyri sealed the victory, bringing the team closer to qualification. The second leg will be played in Belgium on February 20 at 23:00 (TSI), with the winner advancing to the last 16.
Dzeko Enters the Record Books
Edin Dzeko, who netted Fenerbahçe’s second goal, surpassed Dusan Tadic to become the oldest player to score in the knockout stages of European competitions for the club.
Match Highlights
- 10th Minute: Fenerbahçe nearly took the lead as Kostic’s corner found Yusuf Akçiçek, whose header was saved by goalkeeper Coosemans before hitting the crossbar.
- 11th Minute: Fenerbahçe opened the scoring through Tadic. Kostic’s cross was initially cleared by the defense, but he regained possession and delivered another cross, which Yusuf Akçiçek headed down for Tadic to finish from close range. (1-0)
- 24th Minute: Anderlecht threatened with a corner from Augustinsson, met by Adryelson’s header, but İrfan Can Eğribayat made a crucial save.
- 42nd Minute: Fenerbahçe doubled their lead. Kostic advanced down the left and passed to Dzeko at the edge of the box. After his initial shot was blocked, the veteran striker calmly slotted home the rebound. (2-0)
- 57th Minute: En-Nesyri extended the lead with a powerful header from long range, sending the ball into the corner of the net. (3-0)
Starting Lineups
Fenerbahçe: İrfan Can, Osayi, Skriniar, Yusuf, Kostic, Szymanski, Fred, Amrabat, Tadic, En-Nesyri, Dzeko.
Anderlecht: Coosemans, Sardella, Hey, Adryelson, Augustinsson, De Greef, Dendoncker, Leoni, Huerta, Vazquez, Stroeykens.
Mourinho Returns to the Dugout
Jose Mourinho was back on the sidelines after serving a UEFA suspension for Fenerbahçe’s delayed second-half start against Lyon. He had missed the Midtjylland clash due to the penalty.
Squad Updates & Player Comebacks
- Injuries: Fenerbahçe was without Dominik Livakovic, Alexander Djiku, İsmail Yüksek, and Çağlar Söyüncü.
- Mert Müldür Returns: The Turkish defender made his comeback after a 26-day absence, having missed six games due to injury.
- Osayi-Samuel Starts After Five Matches: The right-back was back in the starting XI, last featuring from the start against Lyon on January 23.
Strong Media Presence
The match attracted heavy media attention, with 224 journalists, including 16 from international outlets, in attendance.
