Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Europa League clash between Fenerbahce and Manchester United in Istanbul. These two come into this match in contrasting form, although when they met two weeks ago it was very much one-sided in United's favour. Victory would leave the visitors on the verge of the last 32, but Fenerbahce also know that three points would leave qualification in their hands too, so there is plenty to play for tonight! Let's start with a look at the team news...

FENERBAHCE STARTING XI: Volkan; Sener, Kjaer, Skrtel, Hasan Ali; Mehmet T, Josef, Alper, Lens, Volkan Sen; Moussa Sow

FENERBAHCE SUBS: Fabiano, Van Persie, Koybasi, Emenike, Neustadter, Salih Ucan, Stoch

MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Darmian, Blind, Rojo, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Herrera; Rashford, Pogba, Martial; Rooney

MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Jones, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Young, Ibrahimovic

Some big news in both camps there, then! We'll start with the home side, and the standout absentee for Fenerbahce this evening is one Robin van Persie, despite the Dutchman scoring on his Old Trafford return in the reverse fixture and notching twice in the win over Karabukspor at the weekend. Van Persie scored 58 goals in 105 appearances during his three-year spell at United, but he has to make do with a place on the bench for this evening's match as Moussa Sow leads the line instead.

That is one of three changes to the Fenerbahce starting XI from the side that won 5-0 at the weekend as Dick Advocaat recalls a number of players for tonight's match, which is bordering on must-win for the hosts. There are plenty of players who will be familiar to followers of the Premier League, though, most notably Martin Skrtel, who was also on the scoresheet and spent eight years at United's fierce rivals Liverpool. Jeremain Lens, who had a short spell at Sunderland, is also in the starting XI.

Van Persie is joined by a couple of other former Premier League players on the bench too, with Emenike having featured for West Ham United last season and Stoch appearing for Chelsea much earlier in his career. None of them are included from the start, though, in a side that also sees three changes from the reverse fixture. Josef is one of those to come in in the middle of the park, partnering Topal in midfield tonight.

The back four remains unchanged from both the weekend and the reverse fixture two weeks ago, as does Volkan Demirel in the Fenerbahce goal, so Advocaat will be hoping for a better display from that unit tonight after they conceded four times at Old Trafford. Further forward, meanwhile, it will be up to Alper, Lens and Volkan Sen to provide the support for Sow.

As for the visitors, their headline news is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic drops to the bench following his recent goal drought. The Swede scored five times in his first five matches for United, but is now without a goal in six and had 12 shots without scoring against Burnley at the weekend. There is no doubting his quality, and he is one of only three players to score for seven different clubs in UEFA competition, but he is going through one of the toughest spells of his illustrious career right now.

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Taking his place up front is the returning Wayne Rooney, who hasn't exactly enjoyed the best of times this season either. The captain's form has been heavily criticised, resulting in him being dropped by club and country already this term, but it is worth remembering that he is one of United's greatest ever goalscorers. Indeed, tonight he could equal Ruud van Nistelrooy as the club's highest-scoring player in European competition, and he will have fond memories of Fenerbahce having scored a hat-trick against them on his United debut 12 years ago.

Rooney's inclusion is one of three changes made by Mourinho from the team that couldn't break down Burnley at the weekend, with Morgan Schneiderlin being handed a rare start in the centre of midfield and Anthony Martial returning to the side in pace of Lingard and Mata respectively. Martial is expected to play out wide in a trio with Rashford and Pogba which, if it clicks, could be a very quick and exciting attacking force.

Martial and Pogba were, of course, on the scoresheet in the reverse two weeks ago, with the latter scoring twice in the first half to set United on their way to the victory. They may need those goals from midfield again with Rooney misfiring, but if the starting XI fails to deliver then they do have Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the bench. The winger's start to life at United has been rather bizarre, with Mourinho often leaving him out of the squad entirely despite an incredible season with Dortmund last term. He is in the squad tonight, though, and with the likes of Ibrahimovic and Mata on the bench too, Mourinho has some heavy artillery as back-up if things aren't going to plan.

Fenerbahce would be forgiven for heading into this match fairly cautiously after their 4-1 defeat in the reverse a fortnight ago, but this is likely to be a much closer game than that one at Old Trafford. An away trip to Turkey is renowned as one of the most daunting a team can face in the Champions League or Europa League, and Fener will be hoping that their home advantage can help them to what would be a crucial victory tonight. There is sure to be an intimidating atmosphere in the stadium.

Qualification for the knockout rounds of this competition is currently out of Fenerbahce's hands, but a win tonight would change all of that, lifting them above Manchester United and potentially top of Group A, depending on Feyenoord's result against Zorya. Fener currently sit in third place, two points behind the top two after a win, a draw and a defeat in their opening three games. They also have the worst defence in the group, although four of their five goals were shipped last time out against United.

Even discounting Fenerbahce's usual home advantage, it is the home sides who have been dominating in Group A so far. Of the six matches in the group, five have been won by the home team, with the other ending in a 1-1 draw. Four of those victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline too and, considering Manchester United's troubles in front of goal recently, a Fenerbahce clean sheet is certainly not out of the question.

Their defensive record has not been the best this season, though, with only one team in the top seven of the Super Lig having conceded more than Fenerbahce so far. At the other end, only the top two have scored more, but things certainly aren't going to plan for Dick Advocaat's side on the domestic front so far. They sit down in fifth place as things stand, already four points off the top four, six off the Champions League places and eight adrift of surprise leaders Istanbul Basaksehir.

Things are improving, though, with Fenerbahce having lost just one of their last nine in all competitions compared to three defeats in their first seven. That solitary defeat was against tonight's opponents in the reverse at Old Trafford, but since then Fener have won back-to-back games without conceding - the most recent of which saw them run out 5-0 winners over sixth-placed Karabukspor on Sunday, although it should be noted that Karabukspor had to play over an hour with 10 men. Even so, it was Fenerbahce's biggest win since January, so they should be full of confidence heading into this match.

Tonight will mark Fenerbahce's 100th appearance in a UEFA Cup or Europa League match, with 42 wins, 23 draws and 34 defeats from the previous 99. They still face a job to salvage their perfect record of having qualified for the group stages in their last four campaigns in this competition, though, and ideally they wouldn't have even been participating in the Europa League having begun the season in the Champions League. Their involvement in the top-tier competition was short-lived, though, losing to Monaco in the third qualifying round before overcoming Grasshoppers to make it into the Europa League groups.

I mentioned Fenerbahce's home record earlier, and if United were in any doubt of home tough it will be to get a result in this game then the fact that Fener have lost just one of their last 33 home outings in all competitions should make them realise. That is a run that includes 26 victories and stretches back to September 2015, when they lost to Molde in this competition. Indeed, that is their last European defeat in front of their own fans too, since when Fener have won six and drawn one, keeping five clean sheets and winning each of the last five.

It is a formidable record for United to overcome, then, and it is made all the harder by the fact that they are in pretty poor form themselves - particularly away from home. You have to go back to November 2013 for their last away win in European competition, excluding qualifiers, since when they have lost seven and drawn one on their travels. That includes an ongoing run of four straight defeats, which was continued when they were beaten by Feyenoord in their only away game of the current campaign.

Things are no better if you exclude the Champions League too, with United having lost their last four Europa League away games and only ever having won once on the road in this competition - against Ajax in 2012. Granted, their experience in this competition is limited - this is, after all, their first ever group-stage campaign - but a team of United's stature would certainly expect to be doing a lot better on their rare appearances in Europe's secondary club competition.

Home and away, United have lost six of their previous 11 Europa League games, winning just four, although their back-to-back wins over Zorya and Fenerbahce does represent their best ever run in the competition for those looking for some positives. That has left them second in Group A, level on points with Feyenoord at the halfway stage, and a third straight European victory this evening would see them move a big step closer to reaching the last 32.

Victories are something that United have found quite hard to come by of late, though, with only two from their last six outings in all competitions. They have only lost one of those games, but it is still not good enough form for a side who hoped to be challenging on all fronts following a summer of big spending and the arrival of Jose Mourinho. Goals have been the main issue of late, with United have found the back of the net just once in their last three games and failed to score in three of their last five.

United's biggest problems right now are coming in the Premier League, though, where they are winless in four games, have only won one of their last seven and have failed to even score in their last three. Mourinho, who is also set to serve a touchline ban in the league after being sent to the stands against Burnley continues to insist that he is happy with his side's performances, but there is no doubting that he will be disappointed with United sitting eighth in the table, behind Watford and already seven points adrift of the top four.

Indeed, Mourinho has made an even worse start to his league career at Manchester United than David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, which naturally must ring alarm bells following the ill-fated spells of his two predecessors. The main problem seems to be putting the ball in the back of the net, which is probably not something he anticipated with the likes of Ibrahimovic and Rooney in the side. United are the lowest scorers in the top eight of the Premier League, though, and their recent troubles were perhaps best summer up against Burnley when they had shot after shot but were repeatedly denied by a man-of-the-match display from Tom Heaton.

There are also problems on the road too - not just in Europe. United have lost three of their last five games away from home, with their only victory in that time coming against League One side Northampton Town in the EFL Cup. Once again, they have failed to score in three of those five games, while their most recent away trip was the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea in Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Istanbul, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is quite a tough one to call considering how United swept Fenerbahce aside just two weeks ago, but I am expecting a different game to that one. United's away record both in Europe and in general cannot be ignored in such a hostile arena, and that could be enough to help Fener get something out of the game. I'll go for a 1-1 draw.

These two sides have faced off five times before, with United alternating between wins and losses in that time. Should that pattern continue this evening then it will be a win for Fenerbahce following United's 4-1 triumph last time out - a game that saw United go 4-0 up before Van Persie's late consolation goal. In Turkey, though, United have won one and lost one against Fener, with their most recent visit resulting in a 3-0 defeat courtesy of a Sanli Tuncay hat-trick in December 2004.

United have won three of their last five visits to Turkey overall, but their most recent game on these shores also ended in defeat at the hands of Galatasaray in November 2012. Overall in Turkey they have won three, drawn two and lost two of their seven visits, while home and away their record stands at eight wins, three draws and four defeats from 15 meetings.

As for Fenerbahce, their two wins against United account for half of their victories against English opposition in European competition, with those four triumphs coming from 18 encounters. They have lost 11 of those games too, so their record is by no means a formidable one. It is, as you would imagine, slightly better on home soil, but they have still lost half of their eight home games against Premier League teams, including the last two by three-goal margins.

Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to go here. This will be just the second meeting between managers Dick Advocaat and Jose Mourinho, both of whom have won this competition during its guise as the UEFA Cup.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! There is a deafening atmosphere inside the stadium as Fenerbahce get us underway for this one!

Oh my word, what a goal this is! Sow was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI, but he has taken just two minutes to justify his place with an absolute worldie! The ball arrives in the box behind the striker, but he produces a stunning bicycle kick from the edge of the box that flies past De Gea. Incredible strike.

It is an absolute nightmare of a start for United, but to be fair there wasn't much they could really do about that. It was a moment of sheer magic from Sow, and you will be seeing that goal for a long time to come.

United are seeing more of the ball right now, but they must have been stunned by that early goal. It was already going to be a difficult test, but Sow's strike has made things even tougher for the visitors here.

Here is that Moussa Sow goal in all its glory. Feast your eyes on this, ladies and gentleman...

Absolutely incredible! Moussa Sow with an unbelievable overhead kick for @Fenerbahce_EN. 🔥🔥🔥 #UEL https://t.co/l68JhRd2c4 — BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) November 3, 2016

United have their first sight of goal tonight as Rashford finds a little bit of space just outside the box, but he drags his tame effort a few yards wide.

YELLOW CARD! Schneiderlin picks up an early yellow card here for a mistimed sliding challenge on Lens right on the right hand side of the box. Almost a penalty, but the officials get it right to award a free kick.

The resulting free kick is whipped to the back post, but nothing comes of it as the header goes comfortably off target.

UPDATE: More bad news for United as far as their hopes of winning this group are concerned - Feyenoord have just taken the lead against Zorya through Nicolai Jorgensen. United need to focus on getting back into this game first and foremost, though.

United are seeing plenty of the ball here in Istanbul, but they aren't moving it quickly enough to drag the hosts out of their shape. Fenerbahce are very organised right now and are dealing with the visitors fairly comfortably.

YELLOW CARD! Herrera, who was sent off at the weekend, remember, goes into the book for a late sliding challenge on Souza. No complaints there.

Pogba seems to be in a bit of pain here. He goes down under a heavy challenge from Souza and the France international looks like he could have suffered a dead leg there. He should be able to continue, though.

CHANCE! Chance for United, but it just isn't happening for Rooney this season. Martial does really well to disguise his pass to his unmarked captain, but Rooney's touch is far too heavy when a good take would have left him with only the keeper to beat.

SHOT! Pogba does well to skip past one man in midfield and drive towards the edge of the box, but his subsequent shot is far too tame and rolls easily into the arms of the keeper. Pogba still looks to be troubled from that early challenge and is not moving freely at all right now.

CHANCE! Chance for the hosts as Sen clips a nice ball into the box which Lens gets to ahead of Shaw. However, he can't get enough on his header and glances it wide when he should do better.

Pogba is still limping around in the middle of the park, but he is determined to try to run his knock off. It looks like a dead leg, but it is taking a while to shake off by the looks of things. One to keep an eye on.

An unwanted landmark for United after that Sow goal...

7 - Manchester United have conceded in seven consecutive European away games for the first time since February 1965. Exposed. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 3, 2016

Bad news for United as Pogba sits down before United are about to take a corner, and it doesn't look like the world's most expensive player will be able to continue here.

United's corner comes to nothing and Blind is caught in possession as Fenerbahce pour forward on the counter-attack. It isn't the most clinical break, though, and it eventually ends as Lens can't connect with another attempt spectacular scissor kick.

MAN UTD SUB: There is the change for United as Zlatan Ibrahimovic replaces the injury Pogba, who limped off a couple of minutes ago.

That change sees Rooney drop back into a number 10 position, with Ibrahimovic going straight up front. United should have more of a focal point up top now.

SAVE! Good attacking chance for United as they win the ball back deep in the Fenerbahce half. Ibrahimovic's pass out wide to Rashford is too heavy, but the youngster retrieves it before cutting inside and drawing a save from Volkan.

United are starting to really apply the pressure now. Fenerbahce keep giving the ball to the visitors in dangerous areas, but so far United have not been able to take advantage of that.

United have just upped things a little bit since Ibrahimovic came on, and they are enjoying a decent spell of territory and possession right now. Still no huge chances for the visitors, though.

Good break from Fener at the other end as Kaldirim gets to the byline, but he lifts his cross over the keeper and everyone else in the area as the chance goes begging.

A flare point as Ibrahimovic squares up to Kjaer on the touchline just after Rooney was on the end of a heavy challenge. Ibrahimovic took a bit of a risk by putting his hand to the throat of Kjaer, but the Fenerbahce man made nothing of it.

Ibrahimovic, who is now being targeted with extra loud boos, is dropping deeper and deeper here, and almost seems to be playing in the number 10 role instead of Rooney at times.

It's all heating up here in Istanbul! The two teams once again square up as Rooney stands over Souza after the Fenerbahce man went down despite United's skipper not making contact. This one is bubbling under here.

YELLOW CARD! ...and the skirmish ultimately sees Volkan Demirel go into the book.

UPDATE: Better news for United - and indeed Fenerbahce - as Zorya have levelled things up against Feyenoord, who have also been reduced to 10 men. Tonight could blow Group A wide open.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

CHANCE! Another chance for Fenerbahce as Alper whips a fine ball towards the back post for Sow, who has peeled away from his man. The goalscorer can't get above the ball, though, and nods his effort harmlessly off target.

The first half comes to an end in Istanbul, then, and it is Fenerbahce who go into the break ahead. They have held the lead since 69 seconds into the game and, despite United having dominated possession for the most part, the hosts have dealt with most of the problems fairly comfortably.

If the only goal of the game so far does end up being the winner then it will certainly be a worthy one, with Moussa Sow breaking the deadlock in magnificent fashion just 69 seconds into the game. The ball arrived behind the striker, but he produced a remarkable bicycle kick from the edge of the box that left De Gea helpless as it flew in off the underside of the crossbar. We've seen some special goals in Europe this week, but that may well be the best of the lot.

Aside from picking the ball out of the back of his net, De Gea has actually had very little to do tonight. Fenerbahce have had a couple of other sights of goal, with Lens glancing a header wide when he should have done better and Sow also failing to make the most of a headed chance at the back post. For the most part, though, Fener have spent their time defending and frustrating United, and they have done a good job of upsetting the visitors' rhythm.

As for United, they haven't quite had as many chances as their possession would suggest, but they have still had a few sights of goal. The best of the lot probably fell to Rooney, who was picked out by a fine reverse pass from Martial just inside the Fenerbahce box. The captain had space and would have been clean through on goal with a good touch, but his control badly let him down and the defender got across to clear the danger. Rashford and Pogba - who was later forced off through injury - have also drawn saves from the keeper, but they are yet to create a really gilt-edged opening.

KICKOFF: Manchester United get us back underway for the second half, and the first thing to tell you is that the visitors have made a change at the break, with Juan Mata replacing Schneiderlin.

It will be interesting to see whether the interval will calm things down a bit between these two sides as it was getting a bit spicy before the break. The early signs suggest not as there have already been a couple of late challenges in this second half.

Really scrappy opening to this second half as play is repeatedly broken up by fouls. It looks to be a tactic from Fenerbahce and, to be fair to them, they are preventing United from getting into a rhythm at the moment.

United have already made two subs, remember, but they do still have the likes of Mkhitaryan or even the archetypal 'plan B' player Fellaini on the bench if Mourinho fancies a change of tact here.

Fenerbahce's gamesmanship is getting under the skin of some of these United players. Ibrahimovic has been angered on a couple of occasions since coming on, while Rooney is cutting a very frustrated figure every time a Fenerbahce player goes down.

Martial clips a ball into the box that Rooney can only get the slightest touch to, helping it on to the back post, but it is too far in front of Ibrahimovic and skims wide of the target.

YELLOW CARD! Alper goes into the book, and I suspect that he won't be the last of the Fenerbahce players to do so in this second half.

CHANCE! Half a chance for United as Martial gets to the byline on the left and pulls the ball back into the middle. It is pinball for a moment before the ball drops to Rashford, who tees up Mata, but the Spaniard drags his shot wide.

Topal makes a bursting run through the middle at the other end now before going down pretty softly under the challenge of Ibrahimovic. It wins the hosts a free kick in a very good position, though...

Now then! Fenerbahce double their lead against Manchester United, and it is another memorable strike. Two players are over the free kick, but it is Lens who takes it with a really short run up. That doesn't prevent him from getting plenty of power behind it, though, curling it over the wall and past a statuesque De Gea. Long way back for United now!

MAN UTD SUB: Mourinho responds immediately with his third and final change, despite still having half an hour on the clock. It is Henrikh Mkhitaryan who he turns to, replacing Rashford.

United have dominated the possession and territory in this game, but the difference is two shots on target for Fenerbahce and two goals so far. They have taken their chances, and in some style too.

As you might expect, the home fans are in full voice right now following that second goal. The ground is not full by any means, but they are making plenty of noise.

FENERBAHCE SUB: The hosts make their first change of the night as Volkan Sen gets escorted off the field by the referee to hurry him up. He is replaced by former West Ham man Emmanuel Emenike.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Emenike to make an immediate impact! The hosts cut right through United on the counter, with the final ball finding Emenike clean through on goal. His first touch is poor, though, and that gives Blind the chance to get a vital toe on the ball before De Gea smothers the eventual shot. A big chance goes begging for Fener to well and truly kill this game off.

YELLOW CARD! Skrtel is the latest player in the book for another mistimed sliding challenge on Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic lines up the resulting free kick himself, but it is a big anti-climax as he smashes it into the wall.

YELLOW CARD! Another yellow card, this time for Mata as he cynically brings down Alper.

SAVE! Fenerbahce are looking dangerous on the break here as they go in search of a killer third. This time Mkhitaryan gives the ball away and Emenike leads the charge, but his eventual low strike from outside the area is kept out by De Gea.

Time is really beginning to run out for United now and, in truth, it is Fenerbahce who look the most like scoring at the moment. There doesn't seem to be any way back for the visitors.

CHANCE! How are United still only two goals down here?! Once again Fenerbahce slice right through them on the counter-attack and Lens fires a low ball right across the face of goal. It is just too hard for Emenike, though, who is inches away from turning it home. Gazza eat your heart out.

Less than 10 minutes to go in this one, and the hosts are getting the 'Ole!' treatment from the home fans now. Rooney eventually shows his frustration with a foul to bring an end to the move, but Fener are in control here.

FENERBAHCE SUB: Another change for the home fans as Alper is replaced by Roman Neustadter.

YELLOW CARD! Sener is the latest name in the book for a handball.

SHOT! Martial tries to take things into his own hands as he lets fly from range, but his powerful strike flies comfortably off target.

FENERBAHCE SUB: A third and final change for the home side, and it is a defensive one as Sow is replaced by Ismail Koybasi.

This one might not be over yet after all! Rooney gives his side a glimmer of hope with another brilliant strike to end his goal drought. He fires a 25-yard piledriver into the top corner, and now United have a chance to nick a dramatic draw here.

...and they will have four minutes of added time in which to do so.

OFF THE LINE! Almost another for Rooney! He gets his head to a corner and steers it towards goal, but Ismail is on the post and nods it behind for another corner. The second delivery falls to Herrera, who has a swing at it, but it is blocked by Skrtel with the keeper out of position.

The referee brings an end to proceedings in Istanbul, then, and it is another poor result for United as they fall to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce. The visitors almost rescued something from the game late on after Rooney halved the deficit with a brilliant strike into the top corner, but it was still only the third best goal of the game as earlier stunners from Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens proved to be the difference.

That result leaves Fenerbahce top of Group A, level on points with Feyenoord after they drew with Zorya Luhansk, while United's qualifying hopes take a big blow. They now sit one point behind the top two and have some work to do if they are to avoid an ignominious early exit from the competition.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Manchester United's poor form continues with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!