Does Fenerbahce still have a chance to make a comeback in Group D?
Fenerbahce still have a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League. However, hopes are fading for the Canaries as the traditional club from Istanbul is currently in a crisis of form. Fenerbahce have not won any of their last four competitive matches. In the Turkish top flight, there have even been three defeats in a row.
This week, FB head coach Vitor Pereira & Co. will start the second leg of the Europa League group stage. Fenerbahce will be the guests in Antwerp. In the first half of the season, the Canaries squandered three important points against Royal Antwerp. So now there is the next attempt.
Just like Fenerbahce, Antwerp have also made a false start in the Europa League group stage so far. After three matchdays, the Red and Whites are even in last place with only one point on their account. Nevertheless, the bookmakers do not see Antwerp as clear underdogs against Fenerbahce according to the odds.
Royal Antwerp will be counting on home advantage at the Bosuil stadium against the visitors from Istanbul. Antwerp have lost only one of their last seven home games in the competition. That defeat came in the European Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt. Since then, Antwerp have gone unbeaten in their own stadium twice in a row.
Antwerp – Statistics & current form
Although Royal Antwerp are not playing the best season so far, the Flemish club is among the best three teams of the domestic Jupiler League. Antwerp already have 24 points after 13 matchdays. Head coach Brian Priske’s team is only four points behind leaders Union SG.
Ahead of the crucial group match against Fenerbahce Istanbul, Royal Antwerp have not been in the best of form in recent weeks. Antwerp have won only one of their last five competitive matches. On the other hand, Antwerp lost two of their last five matches, both away from home.
At home, however, Royal Antwerpen showed strong performances. In the last home game, Antwerp even scored against Club Brugge, currently in the top flight. That’s why Antwerp are going into the home game against the stumbling guests from Istanbul with a broad chest. The last result against Fenerbahce is particularly encouraging.
Will Frey lead Antwerp to their next victory?
In the first half of the season, Royal Antwerpen fought their way back into the game after trailing at half-time and took an important point from Istanbul. In order to keep their chance of continuing their international adventure at least in the Conference League, Antwerp must score three times this time.
Great hopes are pinned on Michael Frey, the current top scorer in Royal Antwerp’s ranks. Frey has already scored 13 goals in the league and is the top scorer in the Jupiler League. Most recently, Frey led his team to an important away win in Bruges. Now the former Nuremberg player is aiming for at least one goal against his old team in Istanbul.
If the 27-year-old even leads his team to victory, odds of 2.60 are paid out for tip 1 on Antwerp vs Fenerbahce. Head coach Brian Priske is only expected to be without Buta, Nainggolan and Coopman for the home game against the Turkish visitors.
Predicted line-up of Antwerp:
Butez – Vines, Almeida, Engels, De Laet – Yusuf, Verstraete – Gerkens, Fischer, Benson – Frey
Last matches of Antwerp:
Jupiler Liga
10/31 2021 – Cercle Brugge 0 – 1 Antwerp
Cup
10/28 2021 – KVC Westerlo 2 – 1 Antwerp
Jupiler Liga
10/24 2021 – Antwerp 1 – 1 Club Bruges
Europa League Grp. D
10/21 2021 – Fenerbahçe 2 – 2 Antwerp
Jupiler Liga
10/16 2021 – SV Zulte Waregem 2 – 1 Antwerp
Fenerbahce – Statistics & current form
Fenerbahce have experienced a relapse into old times in recent weeks and have now squandered any momentum from their strong start to the season under head coach Vitor Pereira. In the Süper Lig, the canaries from Istanbul recently suffered three defeats in a row. As a result, Fenerbahce slipped from the top of the table to seventh place.
In the meantime, not only the defending champions BJK have passed the Canaries, but also arch-rivals Galatasaray. Further defeats would be fatal with regard to the Turkish championship race in 2021/22. It is therefore all the more important to end the current form crisis before the international break.
Before the home match against Kayserispor, Fenerbahce still have the fourth group match in the Europa League on the agenda. The Canaries are guests in Antwerp and are under some pressure to win. After all, Fenerbahce cannot afford to lose any more points in Group D given the current standings.
Fenerbahce get the frustration off their chest?
Nearly a fortnight ago, Fenerbahce squandered three vital points against Antwerp and missed out on a tie with Olympiakos Piraeus, who meanwhile sit second in the table with six points under their belt. The draw against Royal Antwerp was a serious one, as Fenerbahce had the chance to increase their lead from the first half.
The Canaries now face the away hurdle in Flanders in their current form. Fenerbahce have lost only one of their seven competitive matches against teams from Belgium. That defeat was against RSC Anderlecht. If they can build on their record against Belgian clubs with a win in Antwerp, the odds on Royal Antwerp vs Fenerbahce will be attractive.
Vitor Pereira will have to do without a total of five players due to injury for the away match in the Flemish region. Besides regular keeper Bayindir, Gustavo, Aziz, Özil and also Valencia are not available.
Predicted line-up of Fenerbahce:
Berke – Tisserand, Szalai, Min-Jae – Kadioglu, Kahveci, Yandas, Osayi-Samuel – Pelkas, Berisha, Rossi
Last matches played by Fenerbahce:
Süper Lig
10/30 2021 – Konyaspor 2 – 1 Fenerbahçe
10/24 2021 – Fenerbahçe 1 – 2 Alanyaspor
Europa League Grp. D
10/21 2021 – Fenerbahçe 2 – 2 Antwerp
Süper Lig
10/17 2021 – Trabzonspor 3 – 1 Fenerbahçe
10/03 2021 – Fenerbahçe 2 – 1 Kasımpaşa
Antwerp – Fenerbahce Direct comparison / H2H record
The two clubs met for the first time in their club history in the first leg. Royal Antwerpen took a 1-0 lead in the first minutes of the match, but Fenerbahce – despite a missed penalty, mind you – managed to score two goals before the break. In the second half, Antwerp finally managed to equalise the score at 2-2.
Antwerp – Fenerbahce tip
Both clubs have been battling an ongoing form crisis in recent weeks. Royal Antwerp managed to break free in their away match against Cercle Brugge before the match on the international stage. Fenerbahce, on the other hand, suffered their third defeat in a row in the Turkish top flight in Konya and slipped down to mid-table.
In the European Cup, both teams now face a crucial match. Royal Antwerp can take third place for the time being with a win over Fenerbahce and would then have a realistic chance of continuing their international adventure, at least in the Conference League.
The Canaries from Istanbul, on the other hand, will be looking to keep their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League alive with an away win in Belgium. Currently, Fenerbahce are separated by four points from second-placed Piraeus. With support, that gap can possibly shrink to one point on this matchday.
We tend to think that an away win for the Turkish guests is by no means out of the question. The high odds therefore have value. With a stake of five units, we dare to bet on Antwerp vs. Fenerbahce at good odds on the canaries from Istanbul.
