The Europa League Group A kicks off today with Fenerbahce taking on Zorya in Ukraine and Manchester United facing a tricky trip to the Netherlands to face Feyenoord.
Fenerbahce have got off to their worst ever start to a league campaign failing to win any of their first three games. The Yellow Canaries were defeated 1-0 at home by Bursaspor last which ended a 24 match unbeaten run at the Sukru Saracoglu.
Dick Advocaat has not got off to an ideal start but he only replaced Vitor Pereira going into the last week of the transfer window. The Dutch manager has not had time to settle in or really make his stamp on the team .
Fenerbahce will be without Volkan Sen who is suspended and Jeremain Lens won’t be available either.
The Canaries will have summer signings Van der Wiel, Skrtel, Moussa Sow and Roman Neustädter are all available however, Neustädter is unlikely to start after his display against Bursaspor on the weekend.
The defence is likely to be comprised of Van der Wiel, Skrtel, Simon Kjaer and Hasan Ali. The midfield trio is expected to include Ozan Tufan, Mehmet Topal and Alper Potuk.
Miroslav Stoch is set to feature on the wing in Sen’s absence while Sow and Emmanuel Emenike will rotate between being on the wing and in a long striker role – although Robin van Persie may get the nod and if he does the Dutch striker will be playing in a striker role and not out wide.
Fenerbahce cannot afford to underestimate Zorya but the Canaries their bad form is being a tad overplayed. The Istanbul giants did not actually play nearly as bad as is being made out against Bursaspor who had to rely on off the line clearances and incredible saves from their goalkeeper to prevent Fenerbahce from scoring.
The Canaries need to find a response following a poor run of results and will not be taking this game lightly.
Prediction: Fenerbahce Win
Zorya: Shevchenko, Kamenyuka, Sukhotsky, Checher, Sivakov, Gordlenko, Karavaev, Ljubenovic, Grechyshkin, Petryak, Bonaventure
Fenerbahce: Volkan, Van der Wiel, Kjaer, Skrtel, Hasan Ali, Mehmet Topal, Ozan Tufan, Alper Potuk, Stoch, Sow, Emenike
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