Fenerbahçe vs. Rangers: Match Preview

Fenerbahçe faces Scotland’s Rangers in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. Jose Mourinho and his squad aim to secure a victory at home to gain an advantage ahead of the second leg.

The match will take place on Thursday, March 6, at 20:45 (local time) at Ülker Stadium and will be broadcast live on TRT 1.

Crucial Clash at Kadıköy

Fenerbahçe will host Rangers in a highly anticipated encounter, looking to secure a favorable result in front of their home fans. The second leg of this knockout tie is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, in Scotland.

Probable Lineups

Fenerbahçe: İrfan Can Eğribayat, Mert Müldür, Skriniar, Çağlar, Fred, Szymanski, Oğuz, Kostic, Tadic, En Nesyri, Dzeko.
Glasgow Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Rıdvan Yılmaz, Pröpper, Silva Dias, Diomande, Cerny, Hamza, Ianis Hagi, Nicolas Raskin, Dessers.

Renewing a 24-Year-Old Rivalry

Fenerbahçe and Rangers will face each other for the first time in 24 years. Their last encounter was in the 2001-2002 UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where Fenerbahçe advanced to the group stage after drawing 0-0 in Scotland and winning 2-1 in Kadıköy.

Fenerbahçe’s European Journey

Fenerbahçe has played 284 matches in European competitions, recording 112 wins, 111 losses, and 61 draws. The team has scored 388 goals while conceding 404.

Suspended Players: Fred and Osayi-Samuel

Fenerbahçe will be without Fred and Bright Osayi-Samuel due to suspensions. Fred, who has played nine Europa League matches this season, picked up a yellow card against Anderlecht. Osayi-Samuel, who appeared in eight games, previously served suspensions against Twente and Midtjylland.

Rangers’ Europa League Campaign

Rangers entered the competition after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers by Dinamo Kyiv. During the group stage, they secured wins against Malmö, FCSB, Nice, and Union Saint-Gilloise, drew with Olympiakos and Tottenham, and suffered defeats against Lyon and Manchester United. Scoring 16 goals while conceding 10, Rangers finished 8th in the group stage, securing direct qualification to the Round of 16.

Rangers’ Record Against Turkish Clubs

This will be Rangers’ 10th match against Turkish clubs. They have faced Galatasaray the most (three times) and have also played against Fenerbahçe, MKE Ankaragücü, and Bursaspor. Rangers hold a record of four wins, three draws, and two losses against Turkish teams.

Spotlight on En-Nesyri

Fenerbahçe’s top scorer this season, Youssef En-Nesyri, has been in excellent form in the Europa League. With 26 goals in all competitions, including six in the Europa League, he has found the net in each of his last three matches. The Moroccan striker has played in 10 European matches this season, starting in eight of them.

Where to Watch Fenerbahçe vs. Rangers

The Fenerbahçe vs. Rangers UEFA Europa League Round of 16 first leg will take place at Ülker Stadium on March 6 at 20:45. The match will be officiated by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez and will be broadcast live on TRT 1 and the tabii platform.