Champions League Qualifiers: Fener vs Shakhtar in the Spotlight

Fenerbahce has a tough fixture to kick off their 2015-16 campaign.

Fener vs Shakhtar on Tuesday, 7 pm (GMT) will be the hottest mobile bettingfixture in the third round of the UEFA Champions League qualification. Any incident happened on the terraces might eject the Turks from the competition straight away, according to an earlier UEFA decision. The hosts finished as runners-up in the last season of the Turkish Super League. They prepared for the upcoming campaign with a new coach, Vitor Pereira and a bunch of high-profile signings, including world-class forward Robin van Persie.

• Upgraded Fener are favourites
• A draw would be profitable
• European ban is in the air

Meanwhile Shakhtar Donetsk, another regular in the European elite club competition, is still on the track, despite the fact that they had to abandon their stadium due to the war in Donbass. They came second in the 2014-15 Ukrainian Premier League, and they only went out against Bayern Munich in the last edition of the UEFA Champions League. They have won all of their matches this season so far.

Fener vs Shakhtar might trigger an expulsion

Fenerbahce considered as slight favourites against their Ukrainian opponents by operators offering internet betting in the EU. However, Shakhtar might be able to upset the transforming Turks in Istanbul, and moreover, the home team has to face a very serious penalty, if any incident happens on the terraces. The UEFA proposed an exclusion from European competition in the 2012-13 season, after missiles and firework were thrown onto the pitch in the Turkish side’s Europa League matches. A similar incident would see Fener eliminating from the competition at once.

Knowing that all eyes will be on their fans, The Yellow Canaries pleaded their supporters to think of the consequences before making such mistakes again. Their statement said, “It should not be forgotten that any incident that could occur against the spirit of sport will cause such significant financial and spiritual damage to our club. We kindly ask our fans to show sensitivity to the issue and just support to our team.”

The new-looking Fener team is favourite to win

The duo of Robin van Persie and Nani, both of them arriving from Manchester United, might be useful to gain the fans’ attraction. The latter joined a couple of recognized Portuguese players in Istanbul, Raul Meireles and Bruno Alves. There is some considerable Brazilian talent at Fener as well with Diego teamed up by new signings midfielder Josef de Souza and prolific striker Fernandao. Despite the obvious upgrade in the hosts’ squad, Shakhtar will come to upset Fenerbahce and the Turkish fans.

The Ukrainians, renowned for their core of Brazilian players and their efficiency in Europe, are on a three-game winning streak regarding competitive matches this season. They defeated Dinamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Super Cup, and won their first two league games. Meanwhile Fener have played only two friendlies so far, winning both of them. Their last match was against Olympique Marseille, and they dispatched the attractive French side 3-1.

So, Mircea Lucescu’s side is already rolling, however they will play at a very tricky venue. Trips to Turkey are usually difficult, even for the best sides in the continent. Passionate Turkish fans create a loud and hostile atmosphere for visitors, and the Fener ultras are amongst the most notorious supporters. The home team also has a high-quality squad, therefore it is no surprise that online sportsbooks in the EU consider them as favourites. However, their odds are quite beneficial, as the hosts are available at 2.25 (5/4) on Bet365 Sportsbook’s Fener vs Shakhtar winner market.

The Donetsk side are 3.2 (11/5) underdogs, with draw priced at 3.3 (23/10). It might be worth considering backing the visitors, but it would be a brave move anyway. Meanwhile the draw pays even better, and regarding the circumstances, placing a wager on it won’t be a silly choice. Still, backing Fener is the most popular choice amongst the online betting audience.

The risk of ejecting from the competition due to their supporters might be a distraction for Fener players, but it will be also a motivating factor to impress them. With their new Portuguese manager, Vitor Pereira, the hosts are keen to hit the ground running and their fans are also expecting a great year. They might win the first leg of their third round Champions League qualifier, but advancing will be still far away.