Conference League quarter-final, first leg, Thursday, 11.04.2024
Fenerbahce were involved in a scandal at home at the weekend. The club has felt unfairly treated by the association for years. The Canaries had also been asking for the Super Cup final against Galatasaray to be postponed for weeks.
The yellow and navy blues wanted to concentrate on today’s Conference League quarter-final against Olympiakos Piraeus. Originally, the Super Cup should have taken place in Riyadh on December 29, 2023.
However, the TFF insisted on April 7. As a result, Fener only fielded the U19 team on Sunday and left the pitch just two minutes after kick-off. It remains to be seen to what extent this behavior has affected the team ahead of the first leg on Thursday.
In my Olympiakos Piraeus vs Fenerbahce betting tip at odds of 1.75 with provider Interwetten, I’m playing the bet “Double chance 1X Over 1.5 goals”
Ahead of Thursday’s first leg at the Karaiskakis Stadium, the quality of the two teams gives the visitors the edge with a market value of just over 200 million euros to 109 million euros.
However, as the “Thrylos” are playing in front of a home crowd, the best bookmakers, who also offer the best sports betting apps, have them as slight favorites in the Olympiakos Piraeus vs Fenerbahce prediction.
The odds for a home win climb to an average of 2.36. However, with an average of 2.90, the odds for a win for the visitors are only slightly higher.
While the bookmakers seem somewhat indecisive in the “over/under” market, goals on both sides seem quite likely from the bookies’ point of view with average odds of 1.63.
With 47 titles, Olympiakos are still the record champions in Greece. Piraeus were hoping to win their next championship this season. But the start was very bumpy.
Coach Diego Martinez was sacked at the beginning of December. A fourth place in the league and the team’s elimination from the Europa League group stage were the Spaniard’s undoing.
His successor Carlos Carvalhal was only allowed to try his hand for a good two months. After the 2-0 defeat at Panathinaikos, a new manager was sought once again.
In the end, the job went to Spaniard José Luis Mendilibar. He settled in well with his new employer with six wins from his first six games
But then came the first three defeats. In the league, they lost 3-1 at home to Panathinaikos and 1-0 at reigning double winners AEK Athens. Nevertheless, Olympiakos are still in contention for the title.
After 30 of 36 matchdays, the gap to first place is just four points. And Piraeus made history in the Conference League. The “Thrylos” lost the first leg of the round of 16 at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:4.
Never before in the history of the European Cup has a team been able to come back from such a deficit. However, the Red & Whites won the second leg, which was played in Serbia due to the war in Israel, 6:1 after extra time.
Moroccan Ayoub El Kaabi scored five of the club’s nine goals in the competition. Olympiakos have now reached the UEFA quarter-finals for the third time.
In the Turkish Süper Lig, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are engaged in an almost unbeatable race for the title. After 31 match days, the Canaries are just two points behind the “Cim-Bom”.
Fener’s cushion to third place is already 30 points. The yellow and navy blues have only suffered one defeat in the entire league season: A 3-2 defeat at home to Trabzonspor at the beginning of November.
However, the team has now been unbeaten again for 20 league games. The 4-2 win at home to Demirspor on the last matchday was their 16th victory in this period (4U).
With 83 goals, coach Ismail Kartal’s team also has the best offense in Turkey. In the Conference League, the club from Istanbul secured first place in Group H.
However, with 12 points they were only just ahead of Ludogorets (12 points) and Nordsjaelland (10 points). Only Spartak Trnava were clearly without a chance with just one point.
Away from home, they suffered bitter defeats in Rasgrad (0:2) and Nordsjaelland (1:6). In the round of 16, Fener then faced Eintracht Frankfurt conquerors Union Saint Gilloise.
Here, the Canaries laid the foundations for progression with a 3:0 win in the first leg as guests in Belgium. They could even afford a 1-0 defeat at home in the second leg.
The club has now reached the European Cup quarter-finals for the fourth time. With 37 goals in 14 ECL games this season, Fenerbahce, together with KAA Gent, have the best offense in the current competition
In the 2021/22 season, the two clubs met for the first time in the Europa League group stage. The Greeks won both matches. A 3-0 win in Istanbul was followed by a 1-0 win at home.
Fenerbahce are still without a point or goal against Olympiakos. If you include qualifying, Piraeus are unbeaten in five home games against Turkish clubs (3S, 2U).
The “Thrylos” have also conceded just one goal in this period. The Canaries, on the other hand, have lost three of their last four games in Greece (1S).
If you still fancy the underdogs in this match, you can get help from a free bet
Conclusion: Both clubs have been a big surprise bag in the European Cup this season. Piraeus have won five of their last seven European Cup home games. Among them was a 2:1 home win against West Ham last October.
At the other end of the table, however, they lost 4-1 at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the round of 16. Fenerbahce, however, were able to keep up well here, for example with a 6-1 defeat at Nordsjaelland.
The Turks then went on to win 3:0 at Saint Gilloise. In the end, I see the home side just ahead and believe they can at least secure a draw. On the one hand, this has to do with the direct comparison.
In addition, Piraeus are generally on the up under coach Mendilibar. Their record against Turkish clubs is also impressive.
In my Olympiakos Piraeus Fenerbahce betting tip, I am therefore betting on: Double chance 1X & Over 1.5 goals!
