Champions League Quali, 2nd round, first leg, Tuesday, 23.07.2024 at 20:30
Jose Mourinho was sacked by AS Roma in January. A good six months later, the “Special One” is now returning to the soccer stage. After numerous stints in England, Spain and Italy, the star coach has now landed in Turkey.
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc promised the fans titles when he took office in 2018. So far, however, it has only been enough to win one cup. That is set to change with the Portuguese coach, who has won 26 trophies with his nine clubs.
Mourinho will make his competitive debut for his new club in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Canaries will face Swiss runners-up Lugano in the second round of qualifying.
According to the betting odds, the visitors from Istanbul are already the clear favorites in the first leg. I come to a similar conclusion in my Lugano Fenerbahce betting tip and play the bet “Double chance X2 & Over 1.5 goals” at odds of 1.53 with provider Betano
The Turkish runners-up’s squad is estimated to be worth around 220 million euros. The Swiss runners-up, on the other hand, are only worth 40 million euros. So the yellow and navy blues are already the favorites in the first leg.
In the Lugano Fenerbahce prediction, you can get maximum odds of 1.75 for an away win from the bookmakers, who always have odds boosts ready for their customers
On the opposite side, you can get just over four times the stake if the home side win. In the “over/under” betting market, the bet on more than 2.5 goals is just ahead with an average of 1.77.
Here, for example, you can get the current best odds at Betano with 1.78. The provider also offers the Betano promotional code. And the bookies also tend to back the “Yes” option in the “Both teams to score” betting market (1.75 at Bwin).
In September 2021, Mattia Croci-Torti took over FC Lugano. After four league games under coach Abel Braga, FCL had just two points to their name at the time.
But things took off under the new man. Fourth place in the 2021/22 season was followed by third place (2022/23) and finally the runners-up spot last season.
However, the gap to Young Boys was 12 points at the end. On their opponents’ pitch, however, Lugano had been the best team in the entire Super League.
The Ticino side have also reached the cup final three times in a row and won the competition once (2022). As the serial champions from Bern were nowhere near as dominant last season, the “Bianconeri” are now hoping for more
Because those responsible have been able to retain almost all of their key players. In preparation, there were good results against Parma (3:1), Bellizona (5:1) and Stade Nyonnais (2:0).
FCL then kicked off the new season in the domestic league on Saturday. In front of their own fans, the Ticino side were 1-0 down at the break against Grasshoppers after conceding a penalty.
However, thanks to a strong half and a goal in stoppage time (90+2), coach Croci-Torti’s men were able to turn the game around and win 2:1.
The Black & Whites are now back in the top flight for the first time since 2001/02
Under coach Ismail Kartal, Fenerbahce had actually played a sensational season. At the end of the 2023/24 season, the Canaries set a new club record with 99 points.
The yellow and navy blues had also scored an incredible 99 goals. Away from home, “Sari Kanaryalar” had not lost in 19 games with 16 wins and three defeats.
However, as Galatasaray (102 points) had an even more incredible year on the pitch, Fener had to make do with second place. Now star coach Jose Mourinho is set to usher in a new era of success.
The last championship dates back to 2014, since when they have only won the 2023 Cup. But the “Special One” faces a difficult task in Istanbul
Since only 12 instead of 18 foreign professionals are allowed in the squad in the new season, the team will have to be restructured once again. The club is also struggling with huge debts.
Nevertheless, players such as Söyüncü (Atletico Madrid) and Tosun (Galatasaray) have been signed so far. However, personnel planning is said to be far from complete.
The team got off to a rather modest start in preparation with a 2:1 against Petrolul, a 1:1 against FC Admira and a 0:1 against Hajduk Split. However, the last two games were promising.
A 4-0 win against Strasbourg was followed by a 5-1 victory over Hull City
The two clubs meet for the first time on Tuesday. FC Lugano faced a Turkish club for the first time last season in the group stage of the Europa Conference League.
The first encounter against Besiktas in Istanbul was won 3:2. The Ticino side then lost the second leg at home 2-0. Fenerbahce have played six matches against teams from Switzerland in their European Cup history.
The Canaries’ record here is three wins, two draws and one defeat. The only defeat came in the 2010/11 season in the Champions League qualifiers at home against Young Boys (0:1).
This means the yellow and navy blues are still without defeat when they visit Switzerland
Conclusion: The clash between the two runners-up from Switzerland and Turkey is already a real cracker in round 2 of the CL qualifiers. In the end, I feel the same way as the bookies.
I see the visitors slightly ahead. On the one hand, of course, this has to do with their quality and record on Swiss soil. Fenerbahce have also been in really good form in their last two test matches.
Lugano certainly have home advantage on their side, as well as the fact that they have already played their first competitive game of the new season. Nevertheless, I don’t think the home side are capable of more than a draw.
There should also be a few goals on show. My tip for the Lugano Fenerbahce game is therefore: Double chance X2 & Over 1.5 goals!
