Fenerbahçe vs Konyaspor – News and Probable Lineups

On Saturday, Fenerbahce will welcome Konyaspor to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for the second match of the 2026-27 Turkish Super Lig season, as Ismail Kartal’s team looks to bounce back following an unexpected loss in their opening fixture.

The Yellow Canaries enter this encounter after a challenging week where they faced a domestic defeat and then recorded a draw in their Champions League match, whereas the visitors come to Istanbul with their own defeat on matchday one, albeit under less dramatic circumstances.

Match overview

Fenerbahce began the season poorly, suffering a 2-1 loss against Genclerbirligi after initially going ahead with an early goal from Anderson Talisca; however, Franco Tongya and Oguzcan Ulgun flipped the match around for the hosts in Ankara, leaving Fenerbahce without any points.

This disappointing result placed immediate pressure on Kartal, with the Turkish media scrutinizing his strategies after just one league match. The head coach had little time to reflect on that loss, as the Istanbul team faced Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League playoff shortly after.

Fenerbahce managed to secure only a draw with the French team, as Mason Greenwood equalized following Lois Openda’s early goal, ending the match 1-1 and leaving the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg in France next week.

The packed schedule has already tested Kartal’s squad, and high-profile summer recruit Romelu Lukaku is still looking for his significant impact after not entering the game until too late to affect the draw with Lyon.

With numerous talented individuals at his disposal yet team cohesion still being developed, Kartal will be eager for a strong reaction from his players this Saturday. A victory would help calm the early season jitters surrounding the club.

Fenerbahce can also take heart from their strong recent performances against Konyaspor, remaining unbeaten in their previous seven league encounters, with six wins and one draw.

Konyaspor, on the other hand, were unfortunate not to get any points from their opening match, where they held a strong Rizespor team at bay.

Ilhan Palut’s side seemed on the verge of earning a draw until Qazim Laci scored from the penalty spot in the seventh minute of stoppage time to hand Rizespor a thrilling 1-0 win.

Palut acknowledged that his team faced disruptions during pre-season, with several key players missing one to two weeks of essential preparation due to injuries, and he believes this lack of stability may hinder his side from finding their best form early in the season.

Ahead of their trip to Istanbul, he admitted that facing Fenerbahce is a tough challenge but insisted that his players will give their all. He also noted that the club is keen on recruiting another quality winger before the transfer window closes.

However, Konyaspor’s away record against the Super Lig’s elite last season does not inspire confidence, as they lost all three away fixtures against Fenerbahce, Trabzonspor, and Galatasaray, emphasizing the magnitude of the challenge they will face on Saturday.

Team News

Fenerbahce still does not have the services of Jayden Oosterwolde, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, while Mert Gunok is out with a muscle issue. Caglar Soyuncu is also racing against time to be fit for the match.

Lukaku might be in line for his first full start, possibly taking the place of fellow summer signing Vedat Muriqi in the attacking setup, as Kartal is anticipated to make rotations following the Champions League commitments in midweek.

Talisca stands out as one of the few positives from Fenerbahce’s rocky start, having scored in five consecutive matches before the Lyon encounter, and he is expected to keep his position just behind the central striker.

Konyaspor has no new injury concerns, allowing Palut to think about maintaining the lineup that faced Rizespor, with new acquisition Chidozie Awaziem likely to continue in central defense alongside Adil Demirbag.

Emir Bars could also make his way back into the starting XI on the left flank after substituting Ebrima Colley just past the hour mark last weekend, as his direct ability might be beneficial against a Fenerbahce defense that has shown frailties in both of their competitive outings so far this season.

Fenerbahce probable starting XI:

Ederson; Muldur, Skriniar, Ake, Brown; Guendouzi, Kante; Akturkoglu, Talisca, Greenwood; Purpose

Konyaspor probable starting XI:

Ertas; Yazgili, Awaziem, Demirbag, Andzouana; Jevtovic, Ibrahimoglu; Bars, Goncalves, Turuc; Muleka

Fenerbahce’s superior individual talent along with the advantage of playing at home should be sufficient to correct their course after a challenging first week, despite the fatigue caused by their busy European schedule.

Konyaspor showcased strong defensive capabilities against Rizespor, but Fenerbahce possesses a significantly greater attacking threat and is likely to create ample chances to score.

We anticipate that Kartal’s team will respond well in front of their supporters, with either Talisca or one of the club’s new attacking signings likely to find the net as Fenerbahce secures their first Super Lig win of the season.