Fenerbahce, led by Portuguese manager José Mourinho, took a big step towards the Europa League Round of 16 after a dominant 3-0 win over Anderlecht in the first leg of their knockout round tie. The match was held at Ulker Stadium Şükrü Saracoğlu in Istanbul, where the Turkish side showed their impressive form.

Fenerbahce Keeps Unbeaten Run at Home

Mourinho's team is on an unbeaten streak, with 13 official matches without a loss—10 wins and 3 draws. At home, they’ve been particularly strong, securing 9 wins out of 11 matches played in their stadium, showing great resilience.

The first goal came in the 11th minute, courtesy of a header from Dušan Tadić, who converted a cross from Yusuf Akcikek past Colin Coosemans in goal. Before halftime, Edin Džeko added a second after Filip Kostić delivered a cross. The goalkeeper tried to clear it, but the Bosnian striker was quick to pounce on the rebound and score.

Fenerbahce Seals the Advantage

In the 60th minute, Youssef En Nesyri wrapped up the 3-0 scoreline after a pass from Sebastian Szymański. From that point, Fenerbahce managed the game well, keeping Anderlecht at bay and limiting their chances for a comeback in the second leg, which will be crucial for the Belgian team to stay alive in the European competition. This result puts Fenerbahce in a very favorable position for the return leg, with a strong chance to advance to the Round of 16.