Preview: Fenerbahce v Celtic – Yellow Canaries missing key players

Fenerbahçe need a win against Celtic at their home fortress of the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium to guarantee a spot in the Europa League Round of 32.

The Yellow Canaries are currently second in Group A and could even make it through to the next round with a draw should Lokomotiv Moscow drop points against Skenderbeu.

The Istanbul giants were expected to blow all opposition to the side this season but it should not have come as a surprise that the team needed time to gel.

Fenerbahçe were reconstructed over the summer with only Gökhan Gönül, Mehmet Topal, Volkan Demirel, Caner Erkin and just a few other players remaining from the old guard.

Most of the Canaries team had never played together before and on top of that Vitor Pereira was appointed manager.

Pereira has took some time to get his team to gel and faced a lot of criticism along the way but Fenerbahçe are finally starting to click and have been playing some impressive football of late.

The Istanbul giants do have a number of key absentees going into the Celtic game with Luis Nani and Simon Kjaer who both out suspended. Experienced midfielder Raul Meireles is out injured and former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is a doubt.

On-loan Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic the nod ahead of the suspended Nani and Alper Potuk who scored on the weekend is also expected to start on the other flank. In form striker Fernandao who already has 11 goals this season is almost certain to start upfront with Diego Ribas playing in behind him in a playmaker role.

Mehmet Topal and Jose de Souza are likely to sit in front of a back four comprised of Gönül, Bruno Alves, Ba and Hasan Ali.

Celtic are already out of the competition after picking up just two points from their first five games and will be without Brown, Janko, Mulgrew.

Fenerbahçe have really started to come alive and Celtic have nothing other than pride to play for. It would not be a surprise for the Istanbul giants to win on home turf.

FENERBAHÇE – CELTIC

Stadium: Şükrü Saracoğlu
Referee: Serge Gumienny
Kick-Off: 20:00

Expected Starting Line Ups

Fenerbahçe: Fabiano, Gökhan, Alves, Abdoulaye Ba, Hasan Ali, Mehmet Topal, Josef de Souza, Alper, Markovic, Diego, Fernandao.

Manager: Vitor Pereira

Suspended: Kjaer, Nani
Injured: Raul Meireles
Doubts: Robin van Persie

Celtic: Gordun, Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Thierney, Bitton, Johansen, Allan, Rogic, McGregor, Griffiths.
Manager: Ronny Deila

Injuries: Brown, Janko, Mulgrew

See More
5 little-known facts about Barcelona star Arda Turan
Galatasaray set to make bid for Chelsea star Diego Costa