Champions League Preview: Enes Ünal’s arrival gives Fenerbahçe a boost, Lugano still has hope for a comeback

On July 31st, at 1:00 AM, Fenerbahçe will host Swiss giants Lugano for the second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League qualifying round. In the first leg, Fenerbahçe secured a narrow 4-3 victory away from home, giving Mourinho’s team a good start to their Champions League qualifying journey. This gives them the upper hand in the second leg.

The two teams were almost evenly matched in the first leg, with Lugano holding a slight advantage on their home turf. Lugano had 12 shots compared to Fenerbahçe’s 10, with Lugano taking 4 shots on target while Fenerbahçe took 6. Fenerbahçe demonstrated impressive offensive efficiency and quality. After just 4 minutes, Lugano’s Wafler put his team ahead. After settling down, Fenerbahçe responded with two goals from Dzeko. Lugano’s Bislimi then brought the teams level again. Dzeko stepped up at a crucial moment. His hat-trick put Fenerbahçe back in the lead. In the middle of the second half, Kadıoğlu added another goal for his team. In stoppage time, Fenerbahçe’s defense was caught off guard, allowing Valenzuola to score a goal, giving Lugano hope for a comeback.

After the match, Mourinho complained about the “artificial turf” of the Swiss team’s stadium, claiming it prevented his team from performing at their best and significantly hampered their ground play. Regardless, the result of the first leg eased the psychological burden on Mourinho, who had just arrived at the club. He also stated that Fenerbahçe had not yet fielded its strongest team due to the absence of several key players.

As the new Turkish Super League season has not yet begun, Fenerbahçe can dedicate their full focus to the two-legged Champions League tie against Lugano. However, Lugano is in a slightly different situation. The Swiss Super League season kicked off last month, and Lugano has won their first two games, defeating strong opponents Grasshoppers and Basel. In terms of team form, Lugano is in better shape than Fenerbahçe. However, in terms of overall strength, Fenerbahçe clearly has the edge over Lugano. Currently, Fenerbahçe’s total market value is €249 million, while Lugano’s is only €35 million.

Fenerbahçe has set ambitious plans for the new season. Their first step was to appoint one of the world’s top managers, Mourinho. Secondly, they have been active in the transfer market. They beat out Roma to secure the signature of Moroccan international Enes Ünal from Sevilla. Before that, the Turkish side had successfully signed Sevinç, Krunić, and even brought in Saint-Maximin on loan from Al-Nassr. The strength of Fenerbahçe’s squad has increased dramatically. This match is likely to be Enes Ünal’s debut for his new club. The striker’s ability could be a major headache for Lugano. The Moroccan not only possesses impressive aerial ability but also excels in finishing in front of goal, equaling top-level strikers.

Compared to their opponent’s deep pockets, Lugano operates on a smaller budget. Their only major signing was the €2.5 million acquisition of young talent Saniotti from Inter. Polish forward Puzbesz scored 2 goals in 2 league games, showcasing his good form, and is expected to replace Aliseda, who started the first leg.

The previous encounter was the first time the two teams have faced each other in history. After this clash, both teams have gained some understanding of each other. Both managers will undoubtedly make more targeted adjustments for the second leg. But it’s clear that Mourinho has more options for changes.

The last time Fenerbahçe participated in the Champions League group stage was in the 2008/09 season, nearly 16 years ago. If they overcome this hurdle against Lugano, their next opponent in the qualifying round would be Lille, a challenge that would be considered incredibly difficult. Lugano has never appeared in the Champions League group stage. Will they make history this time?

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