Fenerbahçe Vs Lyon

This Thursday night, Fenerbahce will host Lyon at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in the final of three Europa League fixtures scheduled for Istanbul. With Fenerbahce sitting in a challenging 21st place in the group, they find themselves in a precarious position, needing to secure points to avoid further setbacks. On the other hand, Lyon has already secured a place in the knockout rounds, and their focus has shifted to finishing in the top eight of the group stage.

For Fenerbahce, there are numerous concerns heading into this game. Despite their status as a Turkish powerhouse, they are currently surrounded by seven teams, all within striking distance of them in the standings. The pressure is mounting as they must avoid another home loss in the competition. Their most recent setback came on matchday six when Athletic Bilbao claimed a win in Istanbul, handing Fenerbahce only their second home defeat in 25 Europa League matches under manager Jose Mourinho. 

Surprisingly, Fenerbahce has struggled to keep clean sheets this season. They’ve played 10 matches in Europe so far and have yet to register a single shutout, with three of their five losses in all competitions occurring on the continental stage. The defensive concerns have certainly been a major point of contention, especially considering Mourinho’s typical reputation for organizing teams with strong defensive discipline. However, despite the struggles in Europe, Fenerbahce has found a form resurgence domestically in 2025. The team has been flawless in their last four matches, winning all of them and scoring 12 goals. Their attacking strength was on full display in their 4-0 victory over Adana Demirspor just this past weekend. Even with this strong run, Fenerbahce remains six points behind their fierce rivals, Galatasaray, in the Turkish league. 

With their European ambitions now taking precedence, Thursday’s match against Lyon will be by far their most challenging test of the season. However, Fenerbahce’s home record against French clubs gives them a glimmer of hope. The Turkish side is unbeaten in their last five home matches against French teams. Yet, there is one concerning stat that looms large ahead of this encounter: Lyon remains the only French team to have beaten Fenerbahce at home. They managed this feat twice, once in 2001 and again in 2004, and Lyon has won all of their previous meetings with Fenerbahce. This statistic gives the French side the psychological edge as they aim to continue their success in Istanbul. 

Adding to the challenge for Fenerbahce, Lyon has enjoyed a solid record on Turkish soil, winning their only previous match at this venue and drawing on their three other visits. Lyon will be eager to keep this record intact and to bounce back from a defeat to Fenerbahce's Istanbul rivals, Besiktas, earlier this season. 

On the other hand, Lyon arrives in Istanbul in less-than-ideal form. The French side has gone three matches without a win, earning just one point from their Ligue 1 encounters against Toulouse and Brest. Things have been even worse in the Coupe de France, where Lyon was embarrassingly knocked out by fifth-tier Bourgoin Jallieu. Despite these domestic struggles, Lyon’s European campaign has been far more successful. They’ve managed to secure 13 points from a possible 18 in the group stage, and their victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday six saw them end the German club’s remarkable unbeaten run in the competition. 

Looking ahead, Lyon will host Ludogorets in the final matchday, which gives them ample confidence that they will secure three points and progress to the knockout rounds. This allows Lyon a certain level of comfort heading into the Fenerbahce match, as their place in the top eight is not entirely reliant on a victory here. Nonetheless, manager Pierre Sage will undoubtedly want his team to rediscover the form that saw them win 12 of their last 18 games before this recent dip in form. 

In particular, one of the key players for Lyon could be the in-form Rayan Cherki. No player has been involved in more goals in the Europa League than Cherki this season, having contributed to six goals. The 19-year-old’s performances have been a standout for Lyon, and he could be pivotal in getting Lyon back on track. Cherki’s ability to create and score goals has been crucial to Lyon’s success so far, and his continued involvement in the team’s attacking play could be the difference between success and failure in Istanbul. For perspective, Cherki’s contribution to the competition has already matched the number of assists registered by Lyon legend Juninho Pernambucano in the 2006-07 Champions League campaign. Juninho’s five assists during that season were a remarkable achievement, and Cherki’s four assists thus far are a testament to his potential.

The stakes are high for both teams as they head into this crucial match. Fenerbahce, though in a tough position, will need to draw on their historical home form and fight to keep their European hopes alive. For Lyon, the focus will be on restoring their winning ways and making sure they finish the group stage strongly, while also keeping an eye on their upcoming clash with Ludogorets. The match promises to be a thrilling contest, with both sides having much to prove as the Europa League group stage nears its conclusion. 

This encounter will ultimately showcase Fenerbahce’s resilience and Lyon’s need to regain their best form. The outcome will not only determine their respective fates in the competition but also act as a barometer for their performances as they continue their campaigns in Europe and domestically.