Fenerbahce vs. Kasımpaşa – News and Probable Lineups

After suffering a significant 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League, Fenerbahce refocuses on domestic concerns as they take on Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig, aiming to keep the pressure on in the fight for the title.

The Yellow Canaries remain unbeaten in the league with 22 matches played (15 wins, 7 draws), yet they are three points adrift of leaders Galatasaray, meaning any misstep now could be detrimental in their quest for the championship.

Match overview

The setback in the Europa League resonates deeply, especially since former Fenerbahce manager Vitor Pereira — who was appointed by Forest only four days before the first leg — orchestrated a decisive win, putting his old team in a challenging position for the return game at the City Ground.

While hopes for a comeback in Europe still flicker, Fenerbahce must swiftly return their focus to league responsibilities, where they have shown their strength throughout the season.

Before the defeat to Forest, Domenico Tedesco’s squad was in exceptional form, winning four consecutive matches across all competitions, netting at least three goals in each of the three matches leading up to that.

This included a thrilling 3-2 win against Trabzonspor in a crucial league clash, making their failure to score against Forest an unusual occurrence rather than a cause for concern.

On home turf, Fenerbahce will be confident against a Kasimpasa team they’ve not lost to in their last 13 competitive encounters (12 wins, 1 draw).

Nevertheless, they need to steer clear of complacency, particularly as the earlier fixture this season ended in a 1-1 stalemate — a result that would feel much more detrimental now given the close nature of the title race.

Kasimpasa arrives with fresh optimism after breaking a nine-match winless streak in the league (3 draws, 5 losses) with a 3-2 victory against Fatih Karagumruk.

The Apaches surged to a three-goal advantage by the 71st minute, before holding firm against a late push from their opponents, claiming their first win under Emre Belozoglu.

However, they still find themselves in the relegation zone, positioned 16th in the table with 19 points, just one point and one spot shy of safety after playing 22 league fixtures.

Away form is still a worry, as Kasimpasa has lost their last three league matches on the road and remains winless in four (1 draw, 3 losses), with defeats to top-three teams like Trabzonspor and Galatasaray highlighting the challenge they will face in Istanbul.

Team News

Fenerbahce will be without Edson Alvarez, who is still in recovery from injury, while Milan Skriniar is doubtful after being substituted early against Forest.

Marco Asensio, the leading goalscorer in the league with 10 goals, is expected to play a crucial role in attack as the Yellow Canaries aim to bounce back.

Kasimpasa will miss Haris Hajradinovic, who has been sidelined since October with a knee injury, and Claudio Winck is suspended due to accumulating yellow cards.

Irfan Kahveci, who found the net in their recent win and leads the team in creating significant scoring opportunities (five), is likely to be key to any chance of an upset.

Fenerbahce probable starting XI:

Ederson; Semedo, Soyuncu, Oosterwolde, Muldur; Guendouzi, Kante; Moon, Asensio, Great; Talisca

Kasimpasa probable starting XI:

Gianniotis; Corecki, Opoku, Becao, Frimpong; Baldursson, Demirbay; Benedyczak, Ouanes, Kahveci; Tosun

Following a demoralizing setback against Forest, Fenerbahce will be eager to respond strongly when they take on Kasimpasa.

The solution to restoring their confidence lies in delivering a commanding performance and a convincing win. Given the consistency they have displayed in domestic competitions this season, the Yellow Canaries are in a strong position to reaffirm their dominance and remind everyone of their caliber.