Turkish giants, Fenerbahce face a pivotal clash against Lille on Tuesday as they seek to overturn a solitary goal deficit from the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. With a raucous home crowd behind them at the intimidating Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, José Mourinho’s side will be desperate to secure their place in the group stage.
One defeat in 19 home games across all competitions suggests the advantage firmly lies with Fenerbahce. The hosts may also have the upper hand in terms of match fitness, having already played several more competitive games this season than their opponents.
Additionally, with Edin Džeko in such scintillating form, having scored five goals in his last four games, the hosts will head into this tie confident of their chances.
Nevertheless, Fenerbahce will do well to temper their optimism with the reality of their recent head-to-head record against Lille, which stands at just one win in their last five meetings. Moreover, having kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 home UCL fixtures, Fenerbahce will know they have to do much better defensively to progress to the main stage of Europe’s premier competition.
However, that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for José Mourinho, who knows a thing or two about organising defences.
Can Bad Travellers Lille Overcome the Istanbul Inferno?
Despite their first-leg victory, Lille will be under no illusions about the challenge that awaits them in Istanbul. The French outfit have endured a torrid time on the road, losing four of their last nine away matches and a sobering six of their last eight Champions League away games since 2014.
Such patchy road form hardly inspires confidence, and the hostile atmosphere at the Sukru Saracoglu is likely to exacerbate these difficulties.
Nevertheless, Lille’s Jonathan David remains a significant threat with his goalscoring, ensuring the French side’s attack cannot be overlooked, especially against Fenerbahce’s leaky defence.
However, the visitors have defensive issues of their own, especially on their UCL travels, with five of their six away games in the competition featuring both teams scoring.
This suggests we could see chances aplenty in this tie, with goals at both ends.
Betting Tip: Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals (GG & Over 2.5)
13/08 18:00 Fenerbahce – Lille Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10 (Betking)
The atmosphere at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium will undoubtedly be intense, which could heavily influence Lille’s performance and tip the tie in favour of the hosts.
Lille, under pressure to defend their slender lead in such a hostile environment, will need to be at their best to hold off a resurgent Fenerbahce, who should leave no stone unturned in their quest to overturn the deficit.
However, defensive vulnerabilities are evident on both sides. Lille have conceded goals in five of their last six away UCL matches, while Fenerbahce have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 home UCL fixtures. This suggests a high-scoring affair is on the cards.
Considering these factors, we recommend taking the combo bet of Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals at 2.10 odds on Betking.
Furthermore, Edin Džeko and Jonathan David could also be value bets in the anytime goalscorer market, considering their form. Both strikers are priced at 2.60 odds and 3.35 odds, respectively, on Betking to score anytime in Tuesday’s encounter.
Fenerbahce vs Lille - Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10
Possible Starting Lineups:
- Fenerbahce: Livakovic; Osayi-Samuel, Djiku, Oosterwolde, Kadioglu; Yuksek, Szymanski; Kahveci, Tadic, Saint-Maximin; Dzeko
- Lille: Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Santos, Gomes, Andre, Haraldsson; Cabella; David
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