Kocaman to experiment in Fener’s Gladbach game

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman is likely to experiment with his squad as the Istanbul team completes its Europa League group campaign against Borussia Mönchengladbach tonight.

Kocaman may field young midfielders Salih Uçan and Recep Niyaz since Fenerbahçe has already clinched its group, while Gladbach’s second-spot is also certain.

Marseille and AEL Limassol will also play a dead-rubber game in the Greek Cyprus.
Both games start at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, Premier League rivals Liverpool and Tottenham head into the final group matches of the Europa League tonight, with both well-placed to join the likes of Inter Milan, Lyon and reigning champions Atletico Madrid in the knockout stage.

The last five of 24 places are up for grabs as the competition prepares for the round of 32 to be played in February.

Liverpool travels to Italy to face an already-eliminated Udinese, looking to stay ahead of a Young Boys side that plays an already-qualified Anzhi Makhachkala of Russia. Liverpool and Young Boys are level on seven points from five games but the English club has the edge on the Swiss team in a tiebreaker by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

In Group J, Tottenham hosts Panathinaikos. A win for either side would send them through, although Spurs need only a draw to advance.

Although other groups have long been decided, the race is going to the wire in Group E where two clubs from three - Steaua Bucharest, Stuttgart and Copenhagen - will make it through.

Steaua has rattled up 10 points so far but still needs to finish the job away to Copenhagen, while Stuttgart is at home to Molde.

In Group G, the final games will decide if FC Basel or Videoton makes it to the next round. Basel is two points ahead and travels to Belgium to face already-qualified Genk - needing only a draw.

If Basel loses, Videoton can advance by beating Sporting Lisbon, which was eliminated. The 24 top teams will be joined by the eight third-place finishers from the Champions League.