Fenerbahçe vs Zorya Luhansk 17:00 CET/16:00 GMT on Thursday at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. While Zorya are unlikely to make it through to the next round, Fenerbahçe could qualify for the round of 32 with one match to spare.
Zorya are currently fourth with just two points, and with Fenerbahçe and Feyenoord topping Group A with seven points the Ukrainians are unlikely to catch up with either side. Yet the Ukrainians could make things extremely interesting in the group if they would manage to either draw or beat Fenerbahçe.
Manchester United are currently third with six points, and the English club will benefit heavily if Fenerbahçe stumbles over the Ukrainians, and they in turn beat Feyenoord at home at Old Trafford. In such a scenario Manchester would go top in the group.
On the other hand Manchester could get eliminated alongside Zorya on matchday 5, as a defeat to Feyenoord along with a Fenerbahçe victory against the Ukrainians would be enough to eliminate the Red Devils.
This scenario is not unrealistic, as Zorya, who are currently third in the Ukrainian Premier League, have somewhat displayed lack of experience in this competition. The Ukrainians could definitely be considered a good side, but have failed to award themselves with more points, as they tied Fenerbahçe on matchday 1, and then narrowly lost twice 1-0 to Manchester on matchday 2 and Feyenoord on matchday 3, and then finally drew Feyenoord on matchday 4.
In all those matches Zorya was competitive, but failed to deliver the killer blow to walk away as the victor in any of those matches. In many ways this has come down to experience, as Yuri Vernydub’s side has never before reached the group stage of a UEFA competition, and many players still lack the experience playing on the European stage.
With this in mind it will be difficult to imagine that Zorya will be able to extract three points in what is one of the most hostile stadiums in Europe. But the club, who has to play in exile due to the conflict in the Donbass, has been full of surprises in the last three seasons.
Players to look out for:
Ivan Petryak was signed by Shakhtar Donetsk last winter, but has remained on loan with the club. The young left-winger, who can also play as a striker, has tremendous speed, and technical ability. Vernydub could hand the 19-year-old Nigerian striker Emmanuel Bonaventure his Europa League debut.
Fenerbahçe vs Zorya Luhansk – Match Stats
- Fenerbahçe have not won a game against a Ukrainian team in seven encounters (D4 L3).
- Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in eight European home matches (W7 D1).
- Zorya have lost their last three UEFA Europa league away fixtures.
- Zorya have never scored more than one goal in the Europa League group stage this season.
Futbolgrad’s Prediction: Fenerbahçe vs Zorya Luhansk 2:1
Possible Line-ups
Fenerbahçe:
Formation: 4-4-2
Demirel – Kaldirim, Kjær, Skrtel, Özbayrakli – Sen, Neustädter, Souza, Potuk – Sow, van Persie
Manager: Dick Advocaat
Zorya Luhansk:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Shevchenko – Sukhotsky, Forster, Sivakov, Kamenyuka – Grechyshkin, Kharatin – Petryak, Lipartia, Karavaev – Bonaventure
Manager: Yuri Vernydub
COMMENTS
Fenerbahce will start 1-0 with fans at home