Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze Prediction: Fred, Asensio and Guendouzi bring experience

Turkish Super Lig runners-up Fenerbahce begin their Champions League qualifying campaign as they meet Poland’s second-placed Gornik Zabrze (9pm local, 7pm BST, TNT Sports). The two sides have never met before in an official UEFA setting, and will clash over two legs as they vie for a spot in Europe’s richest club competition.

Read on for my Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze predictions ahead of this pivotal contest.

Team News

Fenerbahce will be without France legend N’golo Kante. The two-time Premier League champion is on a post-World Cup break, despite not playing a minute of Les Bleus’ campaign in North America.

New signings Mason Greenwood, Nathan Ake and ​​Vedat Muriqi are not in the squad for this European qualifier.

Football Odds

Gornik Zabrze will be without Jaroslaw Kubicki for a period of up to two months. The midfielder fractured his arm in his team’s 3-1 Polish Super Cup loss to Lech Poznan.

The visitors will also be missing goalkeeper Tomasz Loska through suspension. 

Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze Odds

The Turkish giants are the clear favourites here, priced at 1/6. Gornik Zabrze are marketed at 11/1. If you fancy the draw, that’s up at 11/2.

First goalscorer odds favour Fenerbahce’s Brazilian hitman Talisca at 12/5. The 32-year-old is marketed at 3/5 to bag any time.

Fenerbahce to win both halves @ 23/20

Fenerbahce boast a wealth of experience in European competition. Ex-Manchester United midfielder Fred played in the Europa League final during his time in England. Matteo Guendouzi experienced dozens of Europa and Champions League ties across his career with Arsenal, Marseille and Lazio. Former Real Madrid man Marco Asensio was part of three UCL-winning squads at the Bernabeu.

That is just scratching the surface of the continental knowhow in Ismail Kartal’s squad. They have players who know how to thrive on this stage. I think they will hit an under-experienced Gornik side early and maintain that lead for the duration.

Fenerbahce to win to nil @ 5/6

Only three sides had a better defensive record than Fenerbahce in last season’s Super Lig campaign. This is a team who can batten down the hatches if needed. Perhaps a hangover from Jose Mourinho’s spell in the hotseat.

Gornik looked porous in the Polish Super Cup in their last outing, shipping three goals to eventual winners Lech Poznan. Fenerbahce have the players to prey on that lack of defensive confidence and cohesion here.

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