Fenerbahçe, currently sitting 13th in the Europa League standings with four points, have had a rocky start to the season under José Mourinho. The Turkish giants were hopeful when they appointed the Portuguese coach over the summer, but his short tenure has already raised some concerns. Known for his expertise in European competitions, Mourinho was hired with the clear objective of leading Fenerbahçe to success on the continent. However, early setbacks, including their disappointing elimination from the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of Lille, have cast doubts on that goal.

The loss to Lille, a team Mourinho likely expected to overcome, was a significant blow for a club of Fenerbahçe’s stature. Champions League participation is considered crucial for both financial and sporting reasons, and missing out has increased the pressure on Mourinho. This failure has also heightened the expectations for their Europa League campaign, where, given Mourinho's history, the club will be expecting a deep run to compensate for their absence from the premier European tournament.

Domestically, Fenerbahçe’s form has been inconsistent, with the Istanbul club currently placed 4th in the Süper Lig. While this is not disastrous at this stage of the season, it won’t be acceptable if they remain there by the season’s end.

The Fenerbahçe squad is anchored by experienced players, notably 38-year-old striker Edin Džeko, who continues to be a key figure despite his age, having already scored five goals this season. Džeko’s physical presence and finishing skills remain as sharp as ever. Another standout has been Dušan Tadić, the Serbian playmaker who has contributed four goals and two assists, offering creativity and leadership in the final third.

Adding an interesting dimension to this match is Mourinho’s personal connection, as he led Manchester United to Europa League glory in 2017. His time at United ended on a sour note, and this match will undoubtedly motivate him even more to prove a point.

Manchester United, meanwhile, have had a similarly difficult start to their season, reflected in their Europa League standing of 21st, with just three points. Under Erik ten Hag, the team has shown occasional flashes of brilliance but has struggled with inconsistency, defensive lapses, and poor decision-making. These problems have left the Dutch manager under increasing pressure.

Ten Hag’s position has been the subject of much scrutiny, with rumors that his job could be at risk. Yet, he has managed to scrape together enough positive results to hang on, despite lingering issues within the squad. The team’s persistent errors suggest any lasting improvement may be hard to come by.

For United, a deep run in the Europa League is non-negotiable, especially considering their disappointing recent history in Europe. Since winning the Europa League under Mourinho in 2017, they have failed to make an impact on the European stage, which is far below the club's standards. Moreover, this tournament could provide them a crucial route back into the Champions League, as a top-four finish in the Premier League looks uncertain.

Fenerbahçe come into this match with decent form, having won three, drawn one, and lost one of their last five games. Their most recent Europa League game ended in a 1-1 draw with FC Twente, with Dušan Tadić scoring the equalizer. Before that, they secured wins against Antalyaspor (2-0) and Union Saint-Gilloise (2-1), though they were thrashed 1-3 by archrivals Galatasaray in between.

On the other hand, Manchester United’s form has been poor, with just one win in their last five matches. Their latest outing saw them beat Brentford 2-1, overcoming a poor first half with late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund. Prior to that, they drew 0-0 with Aston Villa and 3-3 with Porto, following a 0-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and a 1-1 draw with FC Twente.

Both teams have had equally shaky starts to the season, so a closely contested match is expected. Both teams have scored in three of their last five games, and we anticipate they will both find the back of the net again in this one. United have drawn four of their last six matches, and given Fenerbahçe’s strong home form, having lost just once in their last 11 home games, a draw seems like a likely outcome.

Matchoutlook Prediction : BTTS (2-2)