Two sides aiming to recover from defeats in their respective Europa League openers will go head-to-head this Thursday, as Fenerbahce welcome Nice to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for the second round of fixtures.
The Yellow Canaries fell to defeat away at Dinamo Zagreb, while the French outfit began with a home loss against Roma.
Read our Fenerbahce vs Nice predictions and preview to find out, but remember to also check our other UEFA Europa League tips.
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Fenerbahce vs Nice prediction: Hosts looking to build momentum
Key stats:
- Fenerbahce ended a three-game winless run last time out, scoring twice to do so.
- Nice have lost both of their two away games with Fenerbahce
- The Ligue 1 club have also suffered defeat in ten consecutive Europa League away games.
- Fenerbahce have scored and conceded in three of their last four outings, a trend mirrored by Nice in their most recent three matches.
Correct score prediction: Fenerbahce 2-1 Nice
Neither side has started the campaign with convincing consistency, yet Fenerbahce approach this clash with greater momentum after ending a three-game winless spell at the weekend.
Nice, meanwhile, have only managed to avoid defeats in three games from nine competitive fixtures across all competitions, and their frailty on the road could again be exposed. However, both teams are expected to find the net, given their respective tendencies to both strike and concede.
Pre-match analysis: Hosts tipped as favourites
- HOME: 7/10 (1.70) – 58.8%
- DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
- AWAY: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes; subject to change.
These figures underline Fenerbahce’s status as favourites, with almost three times the likelihood of success compared to their visitors. The Istanbul giants are priced at 1.70, translating to a 58.8% chance of victory, while Nice, valued at 4.60 with a 21.7% win probability, are clear underdogs heading into Thursday’s contest.
Our recommended hot tip of a first-half draw is currently at 5/4 (2.25), offering value given the recent pattern of level scorelines at the break in Fenerbahce fixtures.
Most recent H2H: First meeting in over five decades
The most recent encounter between the clubs dates back to 1973 in the UEFA Cup. On that occasion, Nice recorded a 4-0 home win, before Fenerbahce responded with a 2-0 triumph in Istanbul, though it was insufficient to progress to the next round.
Fenerbahce preview: Buoyed by return of key players
Fenerbahce had a change in the dugout following their failure to qualify for the Champions League group stage. New head coach Dominik Tedesco has not enjoyed the smoothest of starts since replacing Jose Mourinho, with the Zagreb 3-1 defeat on matchday one of the Europa League particularly drawing criticism from supporters.
However, the Yellow Canaries responded well at the weekend, defeating Antalyaspor 2-0 in the Super Lig, and another positive result on Thursday would help Tedesco strengthen his bond with the Fener faithful.
The squad has been lifted by the return of several important players, with reports indicate that striker John Duran and holding midfielder Edson Alvarez have rejoined training after spells on the sidelines, while Anderson Talisca is also available following suspension.
Predicted XI: Ederson (GK), Semedo, Oosterworlde, Skriniar, Brown, Yuksek, Asensio, Szymanski, Talisca, Akturkoglu & En-Nesyri
- 28/09/25: Fenerbahce 2-0 Antalyaspor (W)
- 24/09/25: Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 Fenerbahce (L)
- 21/09/25: Kasimpasa 1-1 Fenerbahce (D)
- 17/09/25: Fenerbahce 2-2 Alanyaspor (D)
- 14/09/25: Fenerbahce 1-0 Trabzonspor (W)
Nice preview: Growing injury concerns for Franck Haise
Nice began their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Roma, which was followed by a 1-1 draw against Paris FC in Ligue 1. That result means Franck Haise’s men have now gone three matches without a victory across all competitions.
Les Aiglons’s problems have been compounded by injuries, with Hicham Boudaoui limping off in the last fixture and must pass a fitness test to feature here. The midfielder joins a worrying list of absentees which already includes Youssouf Ndayishimiye and Mohamed Abdelmonem, both long-term casualties with cruciate ligament injuries, while Tanguy Ndombele was absent last weekend due to a knock.
Predicted XI: Diouf (GK), Mendy, Bombito, Oppong, Clauss, Samed, Vanhoutte, Abdi, Diop, Moffi & Cho
- 28/09/25: Nice 1-1 Paris FC (D)
- 24/09/25: Nice 1-2 AS Roma (L)
- 20/09/25: Brest 4-1 Nice (L)
- 13/09/25: Nice 1-0 Nantes (W)
- 31/08/25: Le Havre 3-1 Nice (L)
Player to watch: Sebastian Szymanski
All eyes will be on Sebastian Szymanski, who has found his stride with goals in back-to-back matches. The Polish midfielder has netted three times in Fenerbahce’s last two European appearances and will once again be central to their attacking approach.