Lille vs Fenerbahce Predictions

• Lille have lost only one of their last 19 matches at home
• Fenerbahce last round win over Lugano featured ten goals over the two legs
• Both teams have scored in both competitive meetings between these teams

Lively opening leg in store

Lille and Fenerbahce both exited in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals last season but for one there will be strong hopes that they can make it into the Champions League group phase.

Fenerbahce, now managed by Jose Mourinho, have already come through one round of qualification as they edged past Swiss side Lugano 6-4 on aggregate, winning by one goal home and away.

The Turkish side have made some eyecatching signings over the summer, including Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin and one-time Leicester centre-back Caglar Soyuncu.

Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish top-flight last season despite amassing 99 points and losing only once in 38 league games and Mourinho’s arrival may bridge the gap between them and Galatasaray.

Lille a force to be reckoned with at home

However, this Champions League quest looks tough against Lille, who finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and were unfortunate to fall on penalties to Aston Villa in the last eight of the Europa Conference League.

Lille beat Villa 2-1 in the home leg and they are a big deal at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium, where they have lost only one of their last 19 matches.

Fenerbahce needed to score four to win away at Lugano and they also conceded in a 2-1 home win, suggesting Lille may be able to expose some defensive flaws.

That said, the Turkish side has a great attacking presence with Edin Dzeko, Dusan Tadic and Sebastian Szymański in their ranks and they could contribute to what should be a lively affair.

Correct-score punters should still side with Lille to come out on top, taking the French hosts to claim a 2-1 first-leg lead.