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Turkish giants Fenerbahce will begin their European campaign with a tricky first leg of their Champions League second qualifying-round tie against Gornik Zabrze at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul on Tuesday night.
The Yellow-Navy Blues finished second in the Trendyol Super Lig last season, ending the campaign just three points behind champions Galatasaray.
Gornik Zabrze also had to settle for second place in the 2025-26 Ekstraklasa, finishing four points adrift of Lech Poznan, with both clubs entering the competition at the second qualifying round.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze key stats
- Fenerbahce drew11 matches last season in the league, and lost only twice.
- Gornik lost 10 matches last season in the Polish Ekstraklasa.
- Fenerbahce sit 145 places higher than Gornik in UEFA's coefficient rankings.
Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze preview: Comfortable victory for home team?
Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze — Tale of the Tape
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For the fourth successive season, Fenerbahce had to settle for second place in the Turkish Super Lig behind Galatasaray, a sequence that has become increasingly frustrating for the club's supporters.
The Yellow Canaries last lifted the league title in 2013-14 and have since finished as runners-up on eight occasions, although they came agonisingly close last season, missing out by just three points.
Both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce scored 77 league goals last term, but the latter conceded seven more, and while Fenerbahce suffered only two defeats compared to Galatasaray's five, they were ultimately undone by drawing 11 matches, six more than their title rivals.
Fenerbahce have, however, built encouraging momentum ahead of this contest, winning all three of their pre-season friendlies while scoring 11 goals and conceding just once.
Gornik Zabrze reached the European Cup quarter-finals in 1968, but they are returning to UEFA competition for the first time in eight seasons.
They came agonisingly close to winning the Ekstraklasa title last season, but 11 defeats compared to Lech Poznan's six ultimately proved decisive, although they did end a 38-year wait for major silverware by lifting the Polish Cup.
Should the Tri-colours overcome Fenerbahce across the two legs, they will face one of Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Hearts or NEC Nijmegen in the third qualifying round.
They head into this contest after winning three, drawing one and losing one of their five pre-season friendlies, before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Lech Poznan in the Polish Super Cup last week.
Fenerbahce vs Gornik Zabrze form guide & betting tips
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Whispers predicts: Fenerbahce 3-1 Gornik Zabrze
Fenerbahce are overwhelming favourites for this game, and the Turkish giants are priced at 2/9 (1.22) to win the first leg.
Ismail Kartal's side have been winning the first half in four of their last five matches (including friendlies) and they are expected to win the opening half at 6/10 (1.6) against Gornik.
Each of Fenerbahce's last five matches has produced less than 11 corners, and thus Under 10.5 corners at 4/7 (1.57) looks an attractive bet.
> Over 2.5 goals at 1/2 (1.5) | Likelihood: Probable
> First half winner: Fenerbahce at 6/10 (1.6) | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 10.5 corners at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable