UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Sevilla out to see off Fenerbahçe

Sevilla FC have to overcome a one-goal deficit to prolong their debut UEFA Champions League campaign against a Fenerbahçe SK side bidding to reach a first quarter-final.

Sevilla are hoping to turn round a one-goal deficit in Spain
Sevilla are hoping to turn round a one-goal deficit in Spain ©Getty Images

Sevilla FC have to overcome a one-goal deficit if their debut season in the UEFA Champions League campaign is to proceed to beyond the first knockout round. A place in the quarter-finals would also be the furthest that Fenerbahçe SK have travelled in the competition and a 3-2 victory in the first leg of the encounter leaves the Turkish champions as slight favourites to make the last eight for the first time.

• It was an 87th-minute winner from substitute Semih Şentürk in the first leg in Istanbul that gave Fenerbahçe the edge in the tie and also secured their first ever success against Spanish opponents in UEFA club competition. Şentürk's golden moment came after his team had twice gone ahead early in each half through Mateja Kežman and Lugano before an Edu own goal, and a close-range Julien Escudé finish cancelled them out.

• Fenerbahçe had lost all seven of their previous meetings with Spanish clubs, scoring only two goals and conceding 12 in the process.

• The 20 February fixture was only the second occasion Sevilla had faced opponents from Turkey in UEFA club competition. Previously they had defeated Beşiktaş JK 3-0 at home in the group stage on their way to lifting the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, the competition in which they then triumphed again the following season. On each occasion Sevilla owed much to their home form and they will take much confidence from their impressive record in their own ground as they go into this crucial return.

• Sevilla lost just once in 14 fixtures at the Estadio Ramón Sánche-Pizjuán in those two triumphant UEFA Cup campaigns. There were two draws and eleven victories and the Andalusian club have continued that fine record in their first season in the UEFA Champions League. All three of their Group H games have resulted in victories, with Arsenal FC dispatched 3-1 on Matchday 5 for a win that ultimately helped Manuel Jiménez's men to finish two points ahead of the London club at the top of the standings. Before that, they comprehensively beat SK Slavia Praha 4-2 and recorded a 2-1 success against FC Steaua Bucureşti, with Frédéric Kanouté and Luis Fabiano both finding the net in all three matches.

• Fenerbahçe's unconvincing record on their travels will give the Spanish side's supporters further cause for optimism. Zico's charges have not won away in this year's competition, their fifth attempt to land Europe's grandest club prize, although they gained creditable draws at PFC CSKA Moskva (2-2) and PSV Eindhoven (0-0) – a repeat of either result in Seville would be enough to secure progress to the last eight.

• The Turkish team will, however, not want a repeat of their last away match in the UEFA Champions League, a 3-0 defeat at FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 5. Excluding qualifiers, Fenerbahçe have not won an away game in the UEFA Champions League since 23 November 2004, and four of their subsequent six away games have ended in defeat.