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Fenerbahce will mark a major European milestone when they host England’s Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League tonight, as the Istanbul club prepares to play their 297th match in European competitions. The fixture will be staged at Chobani Stadium and will kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time, with Portuguese referee Luis Godinho in charge.
The Istanbul-based club have built a long-standing presence in continental football. Across their previous 296 European matches, Fenerbahce have picked up 117 wins, recorded 64 draws and suffered 115 defeats. Over that period, they have scored 406 goals while conceding 417, reflecting a competitive but demanding European history.
This upcoming match therefore represents more than just another group-stage game, as it underlines Fenerbahce’s sustained involvement at the top levels of European club football.
Since the competition adopted the UEFA Europa League name, Fenerbahce have appeared exactly 100 times in the tournament. Their record in those matches includes 49 victories, 30 draws and 21 losses, with 145 goals scored and 101 conceded. Their 100th match came away to Norway’s Brann, where they ran out 4–0 winners, a result that highlighted their comfort in this competition.
Looking further back, including the period when the tournament was known as the UEFA Cup, Fenerbahce have now played 154 matches in Europe’s second-tier club competition. In those games, they claimed 67 wins, drew 40 times and lost 47, scoring 217 goals and conceding 192.
Fenerbahce’s European campaign has spanned multiple tournaments, including the Champions League, its qualifying rounds, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Conference League.
Taken together, their 296 European matches underline the club’s role as one of Türkiye’s most consistent representatives on the continental stage.
The upcoming match also carries importance in the context of the current Europa League league phase. After six matches, Fenerbahce sit on 11 points, having won three, drawn two and lost one, which places them 12th in the table.
Aston Villa arrive in Istanbul in strong form, with five wins from six matches and 15 points, making them one of the top three teams so far in the competition.
Fenerbahce will be without left-backs Archie Brown and Levent Mercan due to injury, while Edson Alvarez has returned to the squad after a spell on the sidelines.
New signings Anthony Musaba, Matteo Guendouzi and goalkeeper Mert Gunok are not registered for this stage of the competition. Youssef En-Nesyri, who has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, is available again.
Forward Jhon Duran is also back in contention after his suspension was reduced on appeal, allowing him to feature against Aston Villa.
Attention is likely to fall on Anderson Talisca, who has been one of Fenerbahce’s most decisive players this season. The Brazilian has scored nine goals in his last five official matches and has reached 17 goals across 28 appearances in all competitions.
Fenerbahce have yet to lose a European match at home this season. They beat Feyenoord 5–2 in Champions League qualifying, drew goalless with Benfica in the play-offs, and have remained unbeaten in three Europa League home games. Wins over Nice and Stuttgart, along with a draw against Ferencvaros, have strengthened their confidence ahead of Aston Villa’s visit.
As Fenerbahce step out for their 297th European match, the club will be aiming to pair history with a result that keeps them firmly in the race in this season’s UEFA Europa League.
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