Slovacko Vs Fenerbahce
Slovacko Vs Fenerbahce Thursday, 11 August 2022 – 18:00 (BST)
UEFA Europa League Qualification
Pick: Both Teams to Score – NO
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 9 August 2022)
Preview: It was one-way traffic in Turkey as Fenerbahce built up a commanding – if not quite unassailable – lead at the midway point in this tie. Is there any way back from here for Slovacko, who host this return leg at the Mestsky Stadion Miroslava Velenty?
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Table of Contents
Slovacko – Uphill battle following lime first-leg showing?
Playing in only their third European fixture for twenty years, it would be a fair assessment that Slovacko never got going in Turkey and were perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion. On the back foot throughout, they exited Istanbul without mustering a shot on target and with the daunting prospect of having to score three in the Czech Republic to stand any chance of hauling themselves back into the tie.
While there is precedent for this – two of their four previous home games in Europe would see them prevail by the required margin – this is a team whose only recent home outing in UEFA competition saw them scrape a 1-0 win against Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv Plovdiv. They will, though, be bullish about their chances of sealing a famous victory, having posted a record of W14 D1 L2 at home domestically last term.
Key Stat: Across their nine European fixtures in club history, there has never been an instance so far in which both teams found the back of the net inside 90 minutes.
Fenerbahce – Expect another stout defensive effort in CZ?
As soon as the draw was confirmed, the club from Turkey might have been fearing the worst after being paired against Czech Republic opposition for the second season running. Last season Fenerbahce were sent packing in the Europa Conference League play-offs by Slavia Prague, who won both legs 3-2, but encountered little in the way of resistance on this occasion. Coasting to a 3-0 first-leg lead in Istanbul.
That ought to be enough to see them through to the next round. The Yellow Canaries secured a 0-0 draw away to Dynamo Kiev, a fixture played at a neutral venue in Lodz, Poland, in their first European outing of this season. Although this wasn’t enough for them progress, exiting the Champions League at the second round stage, a similar performance – they limited their hosts to zero efforts on target – will suffice.
Key Stat: Since the start of last season, Fenerbahce have won two of five away matches in European competition (W2 D1 L2), scoring in every one of these games aside from their 1-0 reverse to Olympiacos in Greece.
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Slovacko Vs Fenerbahce Betting Advice
Fenerbahce more than merited their victory last week in Turkey, with even the margin of their success deserved on the balance of play. Slovacko’s primary objective in this return leg will be increasing their goal threat after departing Istanbul without so much as troubling Ertugrul Cetin in the Fenerbahce goal. Even that modest aim could prove beyond them, though, should Thursday’s visitors maintain their level.
Slovacko Vs Fenerbahce – Key Facts:
- In the first leg, Fenerbahce delivered a dominant display to claim a 3-0 win that makes it extremely difficult for Slovacko – featuring in only their second European tie for 20 years – to recover from.
- Slovacko finished in fourth place in the 2021-22 Czech First League. They were beaten on just two occasions in front of their own fans (W14 D1 L2), winning by a 3+ margin – which is what is required on Thursday – four times.
- Fenerbahce claimed runners-up honours in the 2021-22 Turkish Super Lig, representing their best finish in four seasons. Only champions Trabzonspor, meanwhile, won more league games last season away from home than The Yellow Canaries (W10 D5 L4).
Against Dynamo Kiev in their previous European outing of the season, Fenerbahce were incredibly unfortunate not to win the away leg. Jorge Jesus’ men were on top for large swathes, tallying 12 shots, six of those on target, in Lodz to the eight of the Ukrainians, who also ended the contest without testing Cetin. Moreover, in the nine previous European outings of Slovacko, there has yet to be a game in which both teams scored.
Best Betting Odds – Slovacko Vs Fenerbahce
Slovacko – 5/2 (BetVictor)
Draw – 13/5 (Bet365)
Fenerbahce – 23/20 (Ladbrokes)
