NK Maribor vs Fenerbahce Istanbul Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 15/08/2023, 13:16  by Sridhar in Conference League Predictions

Turkish giants Fenerbahce will look to move closer to the group stages of the Europa Conference League when they travel to Maribor with a 3-1 lead. This second leg of the third qualifying round will be played at Ljudski Vrt Stadium in Maribor on Thursday. The winner of this two-legged tie will proceed to the playoffs where they will face the winner of the tie between Twente and Riga. The loser will have no such luck and their participation in the European qualification rounds ends with a defeat. Maribor held Fenerbahce to a first-half draw but tables were turned close to the hour mark when they fell two goals behind in the first leg. They did pull one back but a late penalty meant Maribor return with a two-goal deficit. They did bounce back with a win in the league, making it three wins across the last four competitive games and an outside hope of turning things around. The hosts started this campaign in the first qualifying round managing to win 3-2 and 5-4 by aggregate. In both those ties, they remained unbeaten at home winning and drawing one game each.

Fenerbahce started their qualification campaign in the second round, dispatching Zimbru Chisinau 9-0 by aggregate. They are on a roll this season, winning eight and drawing one of their nine competitive matches. The visitors even started their Turkish domestic league campaign with a win last weekend, giving them tailwind to this trip. Their only away game in this Conference League campaign ended in a 4-0 win, so the hosts can’t expect that the visitors will sit back on their lead. Either way there are going to be goals here as Fenerbahce’s only other away Conference League game ended with five match goals. There could be no home sickness either, as the Turkish visitors have won six and drawn two of their last nine away competitive matches.