Fenerbahçe hosts Slavia Prague in Champions League clash

Fenerbahçe is set to host Slavia Prague in a UEFA Champions League league phase match at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Both teams are seeking their first victory of the season after difficult starts. Fenerbahçe enters the match following a heavy 0-6 defeat against Aston Villa, though they have maintained strong domestic form. Slavia Prague has also struggled, failing to secure points in their opening two matches with losses to Lens and Sabah.

Fenerbahçe manager İsmail Kartal emphasized the need for a strong reaction and noted that the match would be a matter of strategy rather than a simple rematch of past encounters. He also addressed squad concerns, mentioning injuries to Mert Müldür and Marco Asensio, and the ongoing physical issues of N'Golo Kante. There is also discussion regarding Mason Greenwood's tactical role due to his defensive contributions.

Slavia Prague coach Jindřich Trpišovský acknowledged Fenerbahçe's strength and the challenging atmosphere in Istanbul. He warned his players against making mistakes and highlighted the physical threat posed by Fenerbahçe's attackers, specifically mentioning Romelu Lukaku. Historically, the two clubs have met three times, with Slavia Prague holding two wins and Fenerbahçe holding one.