RANGERS will square off against Fenerbahce in the first leg of our UEFA Europa League Last 16 tie tomorrow evening.
The Gers have enjoyed several memorable European evenings this campaign and upset the odds on the final matchday of the League Phase to secure a top eight finish and direct passage to the Round of 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about our Turkish opponents who stand in the way of a place in the quarter-finals:
HISTORY
Fenerbahce are part of the ‘Big Three’ in Turkish football alongside Besiktas and Galatasaray.
Indeed, the club boast a record 28 Turkish league titles and, allied with its success in the domestic cups, are one of the most decorated sides in Turkish football history.
On the continent, meanwhile, the side reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2008 and, most recently, reached the last four of the UEFA Europa League in 2013 losing out Benfica.
STADIUM
Fenerbahce play at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, boasting a capacity of just over 47,000.
Inaugurated in 1908, the ground played host to the 2009 UEFA Cup final between Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen, which is famous for being the last of its kind before the rebranding to the current UEFA Europa League.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
You need to go all the way back to the 2001/02 campaign for the last time these two clubs met in European competition.
A place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League was up for grabs as Ibrox hosted a goalless first leg draw in which Michael Mols was dismissed midway into the second half.
The return leg in Turkey saw Fenerbahce net inside four minutes to leave Rangers with an uphill struggle, doubling their advantage in the second half and rendering Fernando Ricksen’s strike little more than a consolation.
CURRENT FORM
Fenerbahce last tasted defeat in all competitions back in December in a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Club in League Phase action.
Since then, the side have embarked on a run of 18 games without defeat, including back-to-back victories in their last two outings where they have scored seven and conceded just once.
Their league phase form in the UEFA Europa League, however, was dogged by draws, sneaking into the play-off round in 24th place following a 2-2 draw with Danish side Midtjylland.
MANAGER
Jose Mourinho is the man at the helm for Fenerbahce having taken the reins at the club back in June last year.
The Portuguese’s honours list in the dugout needs no introduction, having lifted both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup/Europa League twice alongside eight domestic titles.
He was voted FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2010 following his remarkable treble success at Inter, with his longevity stretching as far as his initial UEFA Cup success with Porto in 2003 to triumphing in the UEFA Europa Conference League with AS Roma in 2022.
KEY PLAYER
Youssef En-Nesyri is certainly a player who knows where the goal is and Mourinho will hang his hat on the Moroccan providing the difference against the Light Blues.
Indeed, the prolific forward has netted 26 times already this campaign, including six in 10 appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
Once of Sevilla, his two goals in each leg of their play-off tie against Anderlecht proved vital, with his movement serviced by the creative talents of Dusan Tadic in midfield.