Fenerbahce hosts Benfica for most important match of its history

Fenerbahce hosts Benfica tonight in a historic Europa League semifinal first leg game for the Turkish club.

The Yellow Canaries will hope to pull an upset against the Portuguese giants to advance for the second-tier European club competition’s final for the first time.

“This is the most important game of the Fenerbahce history,” coach Aykut Kocaman said during a press conference yesterday.

The Fener gaffer also said that his team “will face a highly respectable opponent” and said the supporters should be aware of that.

Twice European champion Benfica travels to Istanbul after a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Lisbon rivals Sporting on April 21, the same day that Fenerbahce virtually threw in the towel in the Turkish Super League with a 2-0 defeat to Genclerbirligi. Fenerbahce fell seven points behind leader Galatasaray with the defeat, meaning that the Europa League is the team’s most important target now.

“There’s nothing we can do but focus 100 percent on the Benfica game,” Kocaman said after the game.

Benfica claimed its eighth consecutive league win with the Sporting victory and its attacking firepower has brought them close to a memorable treble of league, cup and Europa League.

One of the main Benfica threats will be skilful Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan who stood out on April 21 with two assists and a man-of-the-match performance.

“He sometimes gives the ball away easily but that happens with players like him who are full of magic and can go on and decide games,” coach Jorge Jesus said of the 25-year-old.

Kocaman used striker Moussa Sow for only 33 minutes on April 21 to save him for tonight when he is set to partner Dirk Kuyt in front of their famously fervent fans.


/HurriyetDailynews/