Benfica vs Fenerbahce is the most noteworthy clash from round 3 of the Champions League qualification. Both of these teams finished second in the domestic competitions last season.
Benfica vs Fenerbahce preview
Benfica lost the title for the first time in five years, ending up seven points behind winner Porto. Fenerbahce was painfully close to their first league trophy since 2010/11, finishing three points behind arch-rivals Galatasaray. In the pursuit of that coveted Turkish League title, the club hired Phillip Cocu to be the team’s new manager. The former Barcelona midfielder won the last three Eredivisie championships with PSV Eindhoven, which is what prompted the Turkish giants to hire him.
Fenerbahce transfer activity and shape of the current squad
The team was in the conversation for both Jack Wilshere and Georginio Wijnaldum but has made only one signing this summer so far – Swansea’s Andre Ayew. The Ghanaian came on an initial loan worth €1.5 million. Cocu’s starting lineup against Benfica should be comprised of several experienced players such as goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, centre backs Manuel Neustadter and Martin Skrtel and midfielders Mathieu Valbuena and Mehmet Topal. Fenerbahce always distinctly has a Brazilian flavour as well. At the moment it is expressed by Souza and Giuliano. Ayew, Ozan Tufan, Alper Potuk and 18-year-old Macedonian international Elif Elmas are players who should feature on Tuesday at Benfica’s Estadio de Luz (21:00 CET) too.
Benfica summer moves
Fenerbahce will have to be on top of their game early on in the season to get the best out of Benfica. If the Turkish haven’t won a league title since 2010/11, Benfica hasn’t missed a Champions League edition since that time. Rui Vitoria leads a team notoriously difficult to defeat, especially on their home ground.
Raul Jimenez, who lost his centre-forward starting spot to one of the most efficient strikers in Europe, Jonas was loaned to Wolverhampton, while 21-year-old midfielder Joao Carvalho was sold to Nottingham Forest. Those were the two most significant moves in a relatively quiet off-season. Odysseas Vlachodimos was acquired to provide competition to Mile Svilar for the role as the No.1 goalkeeper, with Nicolas Castillo, German Conti and Facundo Ferreyra were signed to add depth to the squad.
Benfica and Fenerbahce pre-season
Benfica’s reputation was re-affirmed when they were invited to participate in the International Champions Cup alongside Europe’s elite. Vitoria’s men held their own in all three fixtures, beating Borussia Dortmund on penalties (2-2), losing the same way to Juventus (1-1) and then narrowly losing to Lyon (3-2). Fenerbahce didn’t have the luxury of participating in the ICC, so they had to settle for matches against the likes of Cagliari, Fulham and Feyenoord. The Turkish league runner-ups lost one of their six friendlies, drew three and won two.
Benfica vs Fenerbahce prediction
Benfica will dread facing Fenerbahce, a team on the rise with an awful lot to win and very little to lose coming into the matchup. The Portuguese usually step up and take care of business. We’ll see whether the scenario repeats itself this time.