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The match between İstanbul Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe, scheduled for Friday, 9 May 2025 at 19:00 (Polish time), is a key fixture in the race for European qualification in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Team Form & Situation

İstanbul Başakşehir

The team has been managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjær since January 2025, following his move from Beşiktaş.

Fenerbahçe

Fenerbahçe are led by José Mourinho, who took charge of the team in June 2024.
Despite significant investment in the squad, the team has faced challenges both domestically and in European competitions.

In the previous round, they suffered a 0–1 defeat to Beşiktaş, which may have an impact on morale ahead of this fixture.

Tactical Analysis

Başakşehir

Under Solskjær, Başakşehir favour a counter-attacking approach, making use of fast wingers and precise passes from deeper positions.
Defensively, they rely on organisation and discipline, which allows them to neutralise opponents effectively.
They may surprise Fenerbahçe by playing without a traditional striker, potentially causing confusion in the opposition defence.

Fenerbahçe

Mourinho prefers a style based on ball possession and tempo control.
Their attacking play relies heavily on accurate crosses and set pieces.
However, issues with discipline and concentration could be a weakness, particularly in decisive moments.

Key Strengths

Başakşehir:

• Fast counter-attacks

• Defensive organisation

• Tactical flexibility

Fenerbahçe:

• Control of possession

• Mourinho’s experience

• Dangerous set-piece situations

Summary

Fenerbahçe have been impressive away from home, recording 5 wins and 1 draw in their last 6 away matches, with an average of 2.67 goals per game.
In contrast, İstanbul Başakşehir have shown lower attacking efficiency at home, scoring an average of 1.33 goals per match.

The head-to-head record also clearly favours the team from Kadıköy — 5 wins in the last 6 meetings against Başakşehir suggest a significant psychological and tactical advantage.

Both teams are regularly involved in high-scoring matches, with 83% of their games ending with over 1.5 goals.
Fenerbahçe’s attacking potential stands out in particular — only 16% of their matches finish under 3.5 goals, highlighting their attacking intensity.

While Başakşehir remain solid overall, their home performances do not match the efficiency Fenerbahçe display on the road.

Taking statistical data and sporting context into account, the advantage appears to lie with Fenerbahçe.
The combination of strong away form, favourable head-to-head results and high goal averages suggests that José Mourinho’s side have a strong chance of winning by a margin of at least two goals.

OUR PICK: Fenerbahçe to win at least one half