Fenerbahçe won 4-3 away to Lugano in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round match, with Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic leading the team to victory in a match broadcast live on D-Smart Screen.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho took charge of his first official match with the yellow and blue team as they faced off against the Swiss team Lugano in the first match of the UEFA Champions League second round qualifiers.
The Portuguese coach named a squad of close to 11 players he selected for the friendly match at the Arena Thun.
With Dominik Livakovic in goal, Mourinho fielded a defensive quartet with Birgut Osay-Samuel, Calar Söyuncu, Aleksandar Zik and Jayden Oosterwolde. The 61-year-old manager opted for Rade Krunic at the front of the defense and gave opportunities to Dusan Tadic, Fred Rodriguez, Sebastian Szymanski and Ryan Kent in midfield. Mourinho trusted Edin Dzeko to score goals.
For Fenerbahçe, Ertugrul Çetin, İsmail Yüksek, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Mert Hakan Yandash, Mert Müldur, İrfan Can Kahveci, Cenk Tosun, Baltug Elmas, Rodrigo Becao, Öz Aydın, İzit Efe Demir and Yusuf Akçiçek appeared as substitutes.
Preparation match star Bartujic is on the reserves
Jose Mourinho has placed Baltug Elmas on the reserves after he was one of the players given the most playing time in the first 11 games during training camp.
The 21-year-old player, who attracted attention with his performance during the preparation period, waited on the bench for the match against Lugano.
The experienced coach praised Rade Krunic, who played in the first 11 games in this position.
New transfers Owuz and Cenk will join the team.
Fenerbahce’s two new signings, Oğuz Aydın and Cenk Tosun, were included in the yellow and navy team’s first official match squad.
The yellow and navy team largely kept the same squad they played last season but added some key names to the squad during the transfer period.
One of the new signings, Allan Saint-Maximin, was not taken to Lugano due to injury, while Levent Mercan was also not taken to Lugano due to a decision by the technical staff, but Cenk Tosun and Oğuz Aydın were named in the squad.
Both players started the game off the bench.
Fenerbahce fans were not left alone
The yellow and dark blue fans bought tickets to support the home team in a match where admission to the away stand was not allowed due to a Fenerbahce penalty.
Last season, UEFA banned Fenerbahçe from playing in any spectators for three away matches following an incident caused by fans in yellow and dark blue during the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 away game against Union Saint-Giroise.
Dusan Tadic managed like a maestro
Experienced star Dusan Tadic started on the right wing for Fenerbahce and played an impressive game despite the team being on the back foot early on.
The yellow and blue team took the lead after 25 minutes, with Tadic directing the game on the right wing, first winning a penalty for his team and then providing the assist for Dzeko’s second goal.
Tadic, who troubled the Lugano players with effective passing, crossing and through balls throughout the game, held his position in the 45th minute and earned his team a penalty which Dzeko converted to level the score.
Fenerbahçe started the second half of the match quickly, with Tadic providing a superb goal pass to Edin Dzeko, who set up the Bosnian star’s goal.
Edin Dzeko’s hat trick
Captain Edin Dzeko got off to a great start this season, scoring three goals in one go against Lugano for a hat trick.
Dzeko opened the scoring for Fenerbahçe with a penalty goal and then added two more with assists from Dusan Tadic and Sebastian Szymanski.
Edin Dzeko (38), who scored a hat-trick in the match against Lugano, surpassed Shabani Nonda (32) to become the oldest player in the history of European cup matches to score a hat-trick for a Turkish team.
Mourinho’s delight
Fenerbahce’s world-renowned manager Jose Mourinho was extremely happy after his team scored the goal.
Mourinho was ecstatic after Edin Dzeko’s third goal, celebrating with a hug from Irfan Can.
The Portuguese coach was extremely pleased with Ferdi Kadduor’s goal which put his team 4-2 up, and celebrated with the yellow and blue fans.
The Portuguese coach’s ambition and passionate joy drew praise from fans in yellow and blue on social media.
