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Fenerbahce will welcome Germany’s Stuttgart today in UEFA Europa League Matchday 3 at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, with kickoff at 7:45 p.m. local time.
The game will be refereed by Denmark’s Jakob Kehlet, assisted by Lars Hummelgaard and Wollenberg Rasmussen. The Europa League is Europe’s second-tier club tournament, sitting below the UEFA Champions League.
After opening the group with a 3–1 defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb, Fenerbahce bounced back by beating France’s Nice 2–1 at home. Stuttgart started with a 2–1 home win over Celta Vigo before losing 2–0 away to Switzerland’s Basel.
Fenerbahce also come in on the back of a 2–1 league victory over Fatih Karagumruk, which keeps spirits high in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce are set to be without four players. Goalkeeper Ederson is injured, while forward Jhon Duran has only just rejoined team training and lacks match fitness. In addition, Irfan Can Kahveci and Cenk Tosun remain out of the squad.
There is, however, positive news in goal: Irfan Can Egribayat has recovered from a toe fracture and was back in the squad against Fatih Karagumruk. Head coach Domenico Tedesco is weighing whether to keep faith with Tarik Cetin—who kept a clean sheet against Samsunspor and made key stops last time out—or hand the gloves to Egribayat.
The Istanbul club will be playing their 293rd match in European competitions. Across 292 games to date, Fenerbahce have recorded 115 wins, 62 draws, and 115 losses, scoring 400 goals and conceding 416.
Within the competition historically known as the UEFA Cup and, since 2009–10, the UEFA Europa League, Fenerbahce have featured in 150 fixtures with 65 wins, 38 draws, and 47 defeats (211 scored, 191 conceded). Since the tournament adopted the Europa League name, they have played 96 matches, posting 47 wins, 28 draws, and 21 losses (139 scored, 100 conceded). Those numbers show a side that knows how to navigate this stage and often finds a way to score.
With both teams already trading a win and a loss in their first two outings, today’s meeting could shape the group’s midway picture. Fenerbahce will try to build on home momentum; Stuttgart will aim to steady their campaign away from Germany.
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