Amidst the intense competition for the top spot in the Turkish Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe must take a break from their battle against rivals Galatasaray in order to resume their progress in the UEFA Europa League (UEL). The Turkish powerhouse was fortunate to qualify for the knockout play-off round in the 16th spot, with a single goal securing their spot. However, they should be feeling confident as they are currently on a 12-game unbeaten streak (9 wins, 3 draws). Their home record has been particularly impressive, with 8 wins in their last 10 games (1 draw, 1 loss). However, their previous European knockout ties have shown that this game may not be as straightforward as their recent form suggests.
Anderlecht, the second-highest ranked team at this stage, narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish and a spot in the last 16 due to goal difference. Their 2-0 defeat against Viktoria Plzen on the final day proved to be their downfall. They have struggled in their domestic league, with 3 losses in their last 6 games (2 wins, 1 draw). Their away head-to-head record against Fenerbahçe is not promising, with 3 visits resulting in no goals scored (1 draw, 2 losses). However, their performance in the UEL group stage was respectable, with 7 points earned in their 4 away games (2 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss).
Two players to keep an eye on are Youssef En-Nesyri, who has scored 4 goals in the UEL this season, and Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, who tends to score in pairs. Interestingly, Fenerbahçe have only failed to score in 2 home games this season, both of which were in the UEL.
