Fenerbahçe vs Aston Villa Europa League Preview and Prediction
Europa League 2025/26
Main Stage – Round 7
Match Date: January 22, 2026
Kickoff Time: 20:45 TRT (Istanbul local time)
Venue: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul
Match Background
Fenerbahçe host Aston Villa in one of the most eye-catching fixtures of Round 7 in the Europa League main stage. Both sides still have strong ambitions in the competition, but it is the Premier League club who arrive under greater pressure, knowing that any slip could damage their push for a top seeding.
Team Form Overview
Fenerbahçe
The Istanbul giants appointed José Mourinho ahead of last season in hopes of reclaiming domestic dominance. However, they once again failed to seriously challenge Galatasaray, and a poor start to the new calendar year led to Mourinho’s dismissal. Under Domenico Tedesco, results did not improve immediately, but gradual progress followed.
The arrival of Matteo Guendouzi added balance in midfield, and Fenerbahçe lifted confidence by defeating their city rivals in the Super Cup. Domestically, they are now more stable, even if not yet fully convincing.
In Europe, Fenerbahçe began their campaign in the Champions League qualifiers, eliminating Feyenoord before being comfortably beaten by Benfica. Dropped into the Europa League, they opened with a loss away to Dinamo Zagreb but recovered well. Three victories followed, including a dominant 4-0 home win over Brann in December, along with draws against Viktoria Plzeň and Ferencváros.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa enjoyed a historic 2024/25 season, returning to the Champions League and bowing out only in the playoff round against Paris Saint-Germain. Domestically, they narrowly missed out on fifth place in the Premier League, finishing just behind Newcastle.
The new season started poorly. Villa were eliminated early from the League Cup and struggled for consistency. However, by mid-winter, Unai Emery’s side had transformed dramatically, emerging as a genuine challenger to Manchester City and widely viewed as Arsenal’s most dangerous pursuer.
In the Europa League, Emery’s “signature” competition, Villa have been largely reliable. Their only setback was a surprise 1-2 defeat against Go Ahead Eagles. Aside from that, they have won all their matches, albeit by narrow margins such as 1-0 and 2-1.
Europa League Form Snapshot
Fenerbahçe
Matches: 6
Wins: 3
Draws: 2
Losses: 1
Goals Scored (avg): 1.5
Goals Conceded (avg): 0.83
Aston Villa
Matches: 6
Wins: 5
Losses: 1
Goals Scored (avg): 1.67
Goals Conceded (avg): 0.67
Key Statistics and Trends
Fenerbahçe have won three of their last five matches in all competitions
The Turkish side score consistently but rarely dominate games
Aston Villa have won five of six Europa League matches
The English club concede fewer than one goal per game on average
Probable Starting Lineups
Fenerbahçe (4-2-3-1)
Ederson
Mercan, Oostervold, Škriniar, Müldür
Yüksel, Elmas
Aktürkoğlu, Asensio, Musaba
Duran
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
Martínez
Maatsen, Lindelöf, Konsa, Cash
Tielemans, Kamara
Buendía, Rogers, McGinn
Watkins
Head-to-Head History
The two clubs met twice in European competition in 1977. On both occasions, Aston Villa emerged victorious.
Odds Analysis
Market | Odds | Implied Probability | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Aston Villa to Win | 2.30 | 43.5% | Slight edge due to squad depth |
Draw | 3.40 | 29.4% | Fenerbahçe strong at home |
Fenerbahçe to Win | 2.90 | 34.5% | Requires defensive perfection |
Over 2.5 Goals | 1.73 | 57.8% | Both sides attack-oriented |
Both Teams to Score | 1.65 | 60.6% | Very likely given styles |
Free Prediction
Fenerbahçe’s home atmosphere will make this a challenging night for Aston Villa, but Emery’s experience in European competitions should help the visitors navigate the pressure. With both teams favoring attacking football and neither defense entirely watertight, goals are expected at both ends.
Recommended Bet: Over 2.5 Goals
Best Odds: 1.73
