A keeper thrown straight in
Ederson has not played a single minute this season. He will tonight.
The Brazilian goalkeeper is expected to start for Fenerbahce against Olympique Lyonnais at 21:00 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off. His first appearance of the campaign. Not exactly the script drawn up over the summer.
Two absences opened the door. Mert Gunok is out with a thigh problem. Tarik Cetin, who covered last weekend, has not kept his place for a match of this size. Ismail Kartal made the call in his press conference: “He is in the squad and he can play.”
Try it for $0.99.
Lukaku is there, but not at full tilt
The other name Lyon will be keeping an eye on is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian signing is available. Kartal admitted he is short of sharpness and refused to promise him a start. A second-half appearance is still on the cards.
The rest of the Turkish XI carries plenty of weight. A Skriniar-Ake partnership at the back. Guendouzi and Kante in midfield. And Mason Greenwood, formerly of Marseille, tucked in just ahead.
Plenty of European miles in a side that still has to go through the play-offs.
What Lyon have to deal with
A goalkeeper coming back into action cuts both ways. Rust on one side. Know-how and composure on the other. Ederson has put together plenty of big European nights before moving to Turkey, and this sort of game will not faze him.
The first leg takes place in Istanbul. The return will decide who goes into the Champions League and who drops into the Europa League. A night that counts twice, then, with a keeper on the other side who has nothing to lose.
Discover the rest of the football news on our website and mathodds app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply