Fenerbahçe looks to win Euro group in Marseille

MARSEILLE

The first game between Fenerbahçe and Marseille ended in a 2-2 draw after the hosts were leading by two goals at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. AP photo

Fenerbahçe looks to punch its ticket to the next round of the Europa League when it meets Marseille tonight.

The Yellow Canaries have 10 points and are sitting comfortably on top of the Group C of the competition, ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Marseille, who both have five points. AEL Limassol is fourth with one point from four matches.

Just one draw in either of the remaining two matches will be enough for Fenerbahçe, but the Istanbul club has a chance to win the group and become a seeded team in the next round.

The two teams’ first meeting in the group was the only time that Fenerbahçe failed to win a game. Fenerbahçe was leading by two goals but allowed two late goals to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Fenerbahçe is coming off a 1-1 draw at Eskişehirspor in the Super League, but the result of the game was overshadowed by a red card controversy. The club’s coach Aykut Kocaman hit out at referee Fırat Aydınus for sending off midfielder Caner Erkin for no apparent reason. The post-game statement was followed by extensive media criticism of the referee and an eventual statement by the club saying Aydınus should not be the victim of a witch-hunt.