Fenerbahçe eyes top spot in group

Having lost two games in a row in the Turkcell Super League, Fenerbahçe will aim to pick up the pieces when it travels to the Netherlands on Wednesday night for a Europa League game.

The Istanbul team currently tops Group H of the Europa League with nine points in four games, but its poor form in the league raises questions ahead of the Twente match.

Fenerbahçe won its first eight games in the league this season, but could not keep up its form. It has won twice in six games, one a win by default against Ankaraspor. The 3-1 loss at home to Kasımpaşaspor on Saturday, which followed a 3-0 loss at Beşiktaş one week ago, made things bitter for the league leader.

Fenerbahçe coach Christoph Daum said after the Kasımpaşaspor game that the good results early in the season “might have confused some of the players.”

“The suspended and injured players played a role in the poor performance, or maybe some players played at a low tempo, thinking that we are way better than our opponents,” he said. “Luck was on our side in our victories, but now we have disadvantages.”

Daum said he believed the team would be back in form soon. “My players have the quality to do that,” he added. “We won as a team and now we are losing as a team, but the future is bright.”

While Fenerbahçe struggles to find its form in the league, its opponent is having a magnificent season, as a victory over the weekend marked three records for the club.

Dutch league leader Twente recorded a 3-1 triumph at Willem II that represented the team’s 10th consecutive top-flight victory, equaling the club benchmark set in the 1973-74 season. It also extended the side’s unbeaten league run since the start of the season to 15 matches, matching the achievement of the 1968-69 season, when Twente also kicked off with 13 wins and two draws.

Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz also had reason to celebrate as his goal against Willem II was his 11th this term and the eighth game in succession in which he has scored, improving on the previous high mark of seven set by teammate Blaise Nkufo two seasons ago.

The club’s English coach Steve McClaren was more concerned with individual errors, however, as he targets sealing qualification from Group H.

“[There were] too many mistakes,” McClaren said after the Willem II game. “We took an early lead and controlled the match but then lost that control. That was unnecessary. At certain times, the passing was not good enough and we weren’t sharp enough in front of the goal.”

McClaren warned his players they must improve to get a result in the Europa League. “We play at home in the Europa League against Fenerbahçe and cannot afford to play that carelessly,” he said. “Still, I want to compliment the team on getting this result.”

The game might decide the teams to advance from the group.

Fenerbahçe will advance as group winner if it comes out on top in Enschede, while Twente will book its place if it wins and FC Sheriff fails to take three points at home against Steaua Bucharest.

The game kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be covered live on Euro Sport on the D-Smart digital platform.