Preview: FC Slovacko vs. Fenerbahce - prediction, team news, lineups

Fenerbahce can take another step towards the Europa League group stage when they travel to Mestsky fotbalovy stadion Miroslava Valenty for a date with FC Slovacko in the second leg of the third qualifying stage.

The Turks captured the opening match 3-0 last week after being eliminated from Champions League contention when they lost 2-1 in extra-time to Dynamo Kiev late last month.

Match preview

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Making it into the playoff round of this competition will be a big ask for Slovacko, who found themselves behind against the more experienced Fener in the opening leg, trailing after 17 minutes, failing to create much throughout the encounter.

That defeat ended an impressive 16-match unbeaten run for them in all competitions, a streak that included winning the Czech Cup, 3-1 over Sparta Prague.

Scoring three goals will be a tough challenge, but they have fared well on their home ground, claiming seven consecutive victories in all competitions, posting a clean sheet in five of their last six games.

While most of their opponents throughout the year have been teams from the Czech Republic, Martin Svedik and his side achieved an encouraging result against the reigning Turkish champions Trabzonspor last month, drawing them 2-2 in a friendly played in Slovenia.

They have only lost one of their previous four European qualifiers played at home, winning the other three contests by a combined score of 9-0.

Slovacko were among the top defensive units in the regular season portion of the 2021-22 Czech League campaign, conceding the third-fewest goals (30).

The Czechs have not allowed a goal in five of their nine qualifying fixtures since competing in their first European qualifier, the Intertoto Cup, in 2002.

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Since the beginning of March, Fenerbahce have been in sparkling form, losing only one of 17 encounters between now and then, without a defeat over 90 minutes over that stretch.

Even though they have not captured any silverware since 2014, Efsane are consistently near the top of the Turkish Super Lig standings, finishing in the top three over each of their previous two domestic campaigns.

New manager Jorge Jesus has a lengthy track record of success both domestically and in major European competitions, leading Benfica to three Primera titles as well as back-to-back appearances in the final of the Europa League.

The Portuguese boss likes to play on the front foot in a quick, attack-minded approach, and this group possesses the skill and talent to thrive under that kind of system.

Last season, Fener were the highest-scoring team in Turkey with 73 goals, and they were among the most dangerous in transition, creating several opportunities on the counter.

Fenerbahce are unbeaten in their last seven matches in which they tallied the opening goal, posting five clean sheets over that span.

Team News

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Vlastimil Danicek had the only goal in Slovacko's 1-0 domestic triumph versus Hradec Kralove as Filip Nguyen picked up a clean sheet.

Daniel Holzer and Michal Travnik each scored in their opening game of the Czech League which ended in a 2-2 draw against Brno, as Jan Kalabiska had an assist on the second goal.

Stanislav Hoffman will be suspended for this encounter after receiving a pair of cautions in the opening fixture, while he, Danicek, Michal Travnik, Holzner and Nguyen were the only players who began their qualifying match versus Fener and also managed to keep their place in the starting 11 this past weekend.

Emre Mor notched the winner for Fenerbahce in the opening fixture of this tie last week, Lincoln had a brace along with an assist, Ertugrul Cetin picked up a shutout and Bruma set up their third goal.

Attila Szalai had their only tally back in July in their Champions League qualifier versus Dynamo Kiev, where they eventually fell 2-1 in extra time, while Enner Valencia notched a brace in their domestic encounter versus Umraniye and Mergim Berisha scored in stoppage time to help them earn a 3-3 draw in that match.

Nazim Sangare (ACL), Mert Hakan Yandas (muscle), Serdar Aziz (groin) and Joao Pedro are all expected to miss this encounter with injuries.

The other players still on the injured list for this squad include Ferdi Kadioglu (hip), Joshua King (ankle) and Irfan Kahveci (muscle).

FC Slovacko possible starting lineup:

Nguyen; Doski, Kadlec, Tomic, Reinberk; Danicek; Holzer, Travnik, Havlik, Petrzela; Sinyavskiy

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Cetin; Osayi-Samuel, Henrique, Szalai, Kadioglu; Arao; Mor, Crespo, Rossi; Bruma, Lincoln

We say: FC Slovacko 0-2 Fenerbahce (Fenerbahce win 5-0 on aggregate)

When it comes to experience and talent, the Turkish outfit seem to possess a lot more than their Czech counterparts, who play well at home but have not faced a lot of sides with the kind of calibre and potency of Fenerbahce in a meaningful encounter.

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