Ajax travel to Turkey on Thursday night to face Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in the Uefa Europa league, in the first of back to back games against the Eredivisie side over the next two weeks.
Fenerbahce are seeking their first win in the competition having followed up their shock 3-1 defeat to Molde with a 2-2 draw at Celtic. The Turkish side is the only teeam that has been beaten so far in this group. Ajax both of their Europa League games have ended in draws, with a 2-2 draw with Celtic at Amsterdram Arena and a 1-1 draw against Molde.
The Turkish side have won four of their last six games in front of their own fans. After Besiktas defeat they played a draw at home with Akhisar 2-2, while they last weekend returned to their winning habits when they won away against Kayserispor with 1-0. Turkish side are aware the upcoming game is their last chance of staying in hunt for a place in the knockout stages of Europa League. Fenerbahce are sitting at the bottom of group A with only one point they earned away at Celtic in a 2-2 draw, and Turkish club are well aware of the importance of the game against Ajax.
Ajax sit top of the Eredivisie table, thanks to a better goal difference than Feyenoord. They also have scored at least one goal in each of their last eight fixtures in all competitions.
Ajax have won just one of thier 13 away games in European competition. Good news for Ajax is also the fact they’ve won all eight of their previous matches against Turkish team, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two. Although, that might not mean much when you consider they haven’t faced a Turkish side since November 1993.
Both rivals are looking to record their first win of the competition and will go firing from the kick off, so it should be an entertaining game.
Head to Head
The sides’ only previous UEFA meetings came in the second round of the 1968/69 European Champion Clubs’ Cup, when Ajax beat Fenerbahce 2-0 at and away. Fenerbahçe’s record in 16 games against Dutch opponents is W4 D3 L9.
Ajax have won all eight of their previous matches against Turkish teams, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two. However, they have not met Süper Lig opponents since November 1993.
Match facts
- Fenerbahçe won only four of their 16 matches against Dutch opponents.
- Fenerbahçe are without a win in Group A, having unexpectedly lost 3-1 at home to Molde in their first fixture and then drawn 2-2 with Celtic.
- Semi-finalists in 2012/13, Fenerbahçe have made it through to the round of 32 in all three of their UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns.
- Ajax beat Fenerbahce 2-0 at home and away in their previous European tie, although that was back in the 1968/69 season
- Ajax have won all eight of their previous matches against Turkish teams, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two. However, they have not met Süper Lig opponents since November 1993.
- Frank De Boer played for Fenerbahçe’s city rivals Galatasaray in 2003/04, scoring one goal in 15 Süper Lig outings.
Team News
Fenerbahce could be without Nani, the former Manchester United winger was forced off during their league match at the weekend and is now a major doubt for this fixture. The Turkish giants could also miss their right winger Volkan Sen and defender Bruno Alves ahead of the tie. Lazar Markovic returned from injury at the weekend and will give a welcome boost to the home side.
Frank de Boer could be without first-choice goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. Also Arkadiusz Milik is also likely to miss out after returning from international duty injured.
