Fenerbahce vs Aston Villa

A massive European night is set for the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium (Chobani Stadium) today, Thursday, January 22, 2026, as Fenerbahçe hosts Aston Villa. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:45 GMT (12:45 ET / 20:45 local).

With the Europa League league phase reaching its climax, this is a top-tier clash between two sides eyeing a direct path to the Round of 16. Aston Villa currently sits in 3rd place (15 points), needing just a win to secure a top-eight finish. Fenerbahçe, under Domenico Tedesco, is in 12th place (11 points) and looking to leapfrog into the automatic qualification spots.

Match Information

Fenerbahçe: The "Yellow Canaries" on the Rise

Domenico Tedesco’s side has found its rhythm at the perfect time, entering this fixture on a four-match winning streak across all competitions. Following a slow start in Europe, they have collected 11 points from their last five games. The atmosphere in Istanbul is expected to be electric, with the home side aiming to avenge historical defeats against the Birmingham side.

Team News and Selection:

• Major Absences: Archie Brown, Levent Mercan, and Sebastian Szymański are all sidelined with injuries.

• Ineligibility: January signings Mattéo Guendouzi, Anthony Musaba, and Mert Günok are not registered for this phase and must wait for the knockout rounds.

• Key Player: Anderson Talisca has been in sensational form, netting four goals in his last two Europa League outings.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Semedo, Skriniar, Oosterwolde, Müldür; Alvarez, Yüksek; Dorgeles Nene, Asensio, Aktürkoğlu; Talisca.

Aston Villa: Emery’s Milestone Night

This evening marks a historic moment for Unai Emery, who becomes the first manager to reach 100 matches in the UEFA Europa League. However, the milestone comes at a challenging time; Villa is reeling from a 1–0 home loss to Everton and faces a significant injury crisis that has depleted their midfield and goalkeeping options.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Crisis: Captain John McGinn (knee) and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez (calf) did not travel. They join Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, and Amadou Onana in the treatment room.

• Unavailable: January arrival Alysson is ineligible for the league phase. Jadon Sancho is a late doubt due to illness.

• Key Player: Morgan Rogers will be the creative pivot, tasked with supporting Ollie Watkins, who is searching for his first European goal of the season.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Konsa, Digne; Bogarde, Tielemans; Guessand, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Historical Dominance: Aston Villa has won both previous competitive meetings (1977-78 UEFA Cup) with a 6–0 aggregate score.

• The Century Man: Unai Emery (99 games) is the most successful manager in the competition's history (4 titles).

• Fener’s English Struggle: Fenerbahçe has won just one of their last eight games against English opposition (D2, L5).

• Discipline Issues: Fenerbahçe leads the competition in yellow cards this season with 26.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Fenerbahçe will look to exploit Aston Villa’s makeshift midfield and the absence of Emi Martínez. With Anderson Talisca playing as a "false nine" or advanced playmaker, the Turkish side will attempt to overload the central areas. Tedesco’s tactical flexibility has been a hallmark of their recent run, and the home advantage in Istanbul cannot be overstated.

For Villa, Emery will likely adopt a more cautious approach, relying on the experience of Youri Tielemans to manage the tempo. If they can weather the initial storm and find Watkins in space, they remain a threat on the counter. However, with so many key starters missing, a point might be considered a successful result in one of Europe's most daunting arenas.

Final Score Prediction: Fenerbahçe 2–1 Aston Villa