Fenerbahçe defeated France’s Strasbourg 4-0 in their final friendly before the new season.
For the match at the Merkur Arena, Jose Mourinho included Dominik Livakovic, Bright Osay-Samuel, Calal Soyuncu, Aleksandar Zik, Jayden Oosterwolde, Fred, Bartug Elmas, Ryan Kent, Sebastian Szymanski, Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko in his starting 11. He also took it out.
On the Fenerbahce bench, İrfan was also joined by Eğeribayat, Osman Ertürülüç, Luan Perez, Emir Ortakaya, Yusuf Akfaşek, Eyit Efdemir, Levent Merka, Raid Krunik, Maigel Muhanyandane, Emre Mor and Umut Nair.
Strasbourg’s starting XI consisted of Dreyer, Emega, Mwanga, Diarra, Sylla, Senaya, Doucoure, Outolo, Ferro, Sebas and Sobol.
Mourinho started the second half with two substitutions. He brought Rodrigo Becao and Cengiz Ünder onto the field in place of Dusan Tadić and Çalar Söyuncu. In the 61st minute, he replaced Dominik Livakovic-Irfan Can Elibayat, Baltug Elmaz-Mert Hakan Jandas, Sebastian Szymanski-Rade Krunic and Bright Osay-Samuel-Izt Efe Demir.
The Portuguese coach brought on Umut Nayir in place of Edin Dzeko in the 72nd minute and Miha Zajc in place of Fred.
Fenerbahçe’s final substitutions came in the 78th minute, with Emre Mor coming on for Ryan Kent and Emir Ortakaya coming on for Jayden Oosterwolde. Yusuf Akçiçek came on for Aleksandar Zik.
A few minutes into the match
In their final friendly before the new season, Fenerbahçe defeated French side Strasbourg 4-0. After dominating the first half, the blue-and-yellow team scored a goal in the fifth minute. Pressing up front, Fenerbahçe launched an attack when Çarar Söyuncu fed Sebastian Szymanski. The Pole stole the ball in the middle of the opposition’s half, took it to the penalty arc and scored an effective shot to put his team 1-0 up.
Fenerbahçe continued to dominate and in the 33rd minute, they extended their lead to two goals. Dusan Tadic’s effective cross sent the ball straight into the net. In the 37th minute, Osay-Samuel, who had dropped back to zero from the right wing with a pass from Tadic, sent a powerful cross from the ground that hit the back post, and Ryan Kent got his foot on the ball that the defense couldn’t clear, scoring the goal. The score was 3-0.
Fenerbahçe extended their lead to four just before the break when some elegant passing led to Edin Dzeko receiving a pass from Oosterwolde just inside the penalty area and firing an effective shot from the penalty spot into the net.
The first half ended with Fenerbahçe leading 4-0. In the second half, both teams struggled for position and the match ended with that score.
Approaching the ideal 11
Fenerbahce faced Strasbourg with a nearly ideal starting eleven.
Manager Jose Mourinho has fielded his ideal squad for the final friendly before the UEFA Champions League second qualifying match against Lugano.
Tadic plays on the right wing
Fenerbahçe’s experienced attacker Dusan Tadic played on the right wing against Strasbourg.
The 35-year-old Tadic, who was effective on the left wing last season, was playing on the opposite wing at manager Jose Mourinho’s request, but he performed well on the right wing and helped score his team’s second goal in the 33rd minute.
