Fotbal Club FCSB v Fenerbahce SK - UEFA Europa League 2025 26 League Phase MD8 A Fenerbahce flag is seen during the UEFA Europa League game between FCSB and Fenerbahce SK at National Arena in Bucharest, Romania, on January 29, 2026. Bucharest Romania PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAlexxNicodimx originalFilename:nicodim-fotbalcl260129_npk0b.jpg
Liverpool travel to Istanbul on Wednesday 4 November for their fourth Champions League league-phase match, against Fenerbahce at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Liverpool arrive with a perfect record. They beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in September, then won 6-3 at LASK on 14 October, with Bradley Barcola scoring a hat-trick.
Last week, they came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield. That left them on nine points from three games, level with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.
Fenerbahce’s campaign has been less convincing.
They reached the league phase by beating Lyon 3-2 on aggregate in the play-off round. They drew 1-1 with Roma on 10 September, with Archie Brown equalising in the 48th minute after Bryan Cristante’s opener.
They then lost 6-0 at Aston Villa on 14 October and drew 2-2 with Slavia Prague on 20 October. Two points from three matches leave them well behind Liverpool.
Before that European night, Fenerbahce face a heavy domestic test. They visit Galatasaray in the ninth week of the Super Lig on Monday, 26 October, the 407th meeting between the two Istanbul clubs. Kick-off at RAMS Park is at 21:30 local time.
Right-back Mert Muldur is part of the build-up.
According to Turkiye Today, the defender is expected to return after more than a month out if the technical staff selects him. He was kept out by an injury sustained in training. Turkish media report that his status will be settled on match day.
Muldur worked through the whole of Friday’s training session with the squad. The 27-year-old had played in six matches this season before the injury.
Fenerbahce remain short of other options. Marco Asensio is out after left knee cartilage surgery, and Nathan Ake faces a three-week layoff with a hamstring injury.
Fenerbahce go into the derby in good domestic form. They have won five, drawn one and lost two of their eight league games and sit third on 16 points, three behind leaders Galatasaray.
They have won their last three league matches and kept a clean sheet in each of their last four. They are also the league’s top scorer with 22 goals.
Galatasaray have momentum of their own. They beat Lille 4-2 away in the Champions League, their first win in the competition this season. They are unbeaten in their last 39 home league games. Their last home league defeat was a 1-0 loss to Fenerbahce on 19 May 2024.
Liverpool will watch the derby for clues. How Fenerbahce fare with or without Muldur, and without Asensio and Ake, could shape the side Andoni Iraola’s team meet on 4 November.
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Athletic Club v Real Madrid CF - LaLiga EA Sports Trent Alexander-Arnold right-back of Real Madrid and England during the warm-up before the La Liga EA Sports match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de San Mames on December 3, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. Bilbao Basque Country Spain PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xJosexBretonx originalFilename:bretonhernandez-athletic251203_npPie.jpg