Fenerbahçe 0-2 Athletic Club
In the 6th week of the UEFA Europa League, Fenerbahçe faced Athletic Bilbao at Ülker Stadium and suffered a 2-0 defeat, marking their second loss in the competition.
Athletic Bilbao secured victory with goals from Inaki Williams in the 5th and 45th minutes. The Spanish side now sits at the top of the group with 16 points, while Fenerbahçe remains on 8 points after this result.
Athletic Bilbao Unbeaten
Athletic Bilbao‘s performance has been exceptional throughout the tournament. With 16 points, 5 wins, and 1 draw, they lead the group and have only conceded two goals in six matches, continuing their unbeaten streak.
Match Highlights
Fenerbahçe 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
1′ The match kicked off with En Nesyri’s opening touch.
5′ An error from Fenerbahçe defender Samet Akaydin led to Guruzeta intercepting the ball and setting up Inaki Williams for the opening goal.
37′ Nico Williams suffered an injury and was replaced by Berenguer.
45′ Inaki Williams doubled the lead with a powerful shot from the left side of the penalty area, ending the first half at 0-2.
Second Half
69′ Mert Müldür was sent off with a second yellow card, reducing Fenerbahçe to 10 men.
Despite substitutions and attempts from players like Edin Dzeko and Cengiz Ünder, Fenerbahçe couldn’t find the back of the net.
Starting Lineups
Fenerbahçe: Livakovic, Osayi, Samet, Djiku, Mert, İsmail, Amrabat, Tadic, Szymanski, Maximin, En Nesyri
Athletic Bilbao: Agirrezabala, Gorosabel, Alvarez, Paredes, Berchiche, Jaureguizar, Galarreta, Inaki Williams, Sancet, Nico Williams, Guruzeta
The defeat leaves Fenerbahçe with work to do as they shift their focus to their domestic campaign and the remaining European fixtures.
Fenerbahçe Faces Athletic Bilbao with Four Absentees
In the 6th week of the UEFA Europa League, Fenerbahçe hosted Spanish side Athletic Bilbao at Ülker Stadium. Head coach José Mourinho made four changes to the starting lineup compared to their last league match against Beşiktaş, three of which were mandatory.
Portuguese tactician Mourinho benched Edin Dzeko and left Fred out due to a yellow card suspension. Oğuz Aydın and Filip Kostic, not listed on Fenerbahçe’s UEFA roster, were also excluded. Their replacements in the starting XI were En-Nesyri, İsmail Yüksek, Sebastian Szymanski, and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Fenerbahçe’s starting lineup against Athletic Bilbao was: Livakovic, Osayi-Samuel, Djiku, Samet Akaydin, Mert Müldür, Amrabat, İsmail Yüksek, Tadic, Szymanski, Saint-Maximin, and En-Nesyri.
Four Key Absentees
Fenerbahçe faced Athletic Bilbao without four players. Long-term absentee Jayden Oosterwolde and yellow-carded Fred Rodrigues were unavailable, while Mert Hakan Yandaş and goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat missed out due to minor injuries.
Minister Bak and UEFA President Ceferin Attend the Match
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak and UEFA President Alexander Ceferin were present at the stadium. They watched the game from the protocol stands alongside Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, UEFA Executive Committee Member Servet Yardımcı, TFF First Vice President Ceyhun Kazancı, and Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç.
Çağlar Söyüncü Returns After a Month
National defender Çağlar Söyüncü made his comeback in the Athletic Bilbao match. Söyüncü had been sidelined since November 10, when he was injured in the Trendyol Süper Lig Week 12 match against Sivasspor.
Having missed three league matches (Kayserispor, Gaziantep FK, Beşiktaş) and one UEFA Europa League game (Slavia Prague), Söyüncü was back in the squad for the clash with Athletic Bilbao.
