Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Fenerbahce
Match Time & Date:
10/08/2023
20:00
Prediction: 3-0
Maribor
Fenerbahce welcome Maribor at their Sukru Suracoglu Stadium in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round. Fenerbahce proved their worth in routine back-to-back wins over Zimbru Chisinau and they now want to move one step closer to the group stages. Men to watch in the home team will be summer recruits Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko, while Miguel Crespo is a major doubt after limping off with injury in the 4-0 triumph over Zimbru. Mert Hakan Yandas is ready to step up.
The Violets, on the other hand, somehow survived Differdange in the previous round, but given their shaky defence, we predict that the Turks are going to record a comfortable victory in Istanbul. To make things even worse for the visiting side, important attacker El Arbi Soudani remains on the sidelines with injury. The two teams meet for the first time in the Conference League.
Highlighted Player (Joshua King):
Joshua King is a Norway international who plays for Premier League side Bournemouth as a striker. King was born in Oslo on January 15, 1992 and he started his career at the youth team of Romsas. In 2006 the Norwegian footballer moved to Valerenga and two years later he joined Premier League giants Manchester United. Nonetheless, he did not see any game action at Old Trafford as he was immediately sent on loan to Preston.
Joshua King played for the likes of Borussia M’gladbach, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers on loan as well before signing a permanent deal with the Riversiders in January, 2013. The pacey attacker scored only three goals in 56 appearances in the league for Blackburn Rovers, but in 2015 Bournemouth chiefs decided to bring him to Vitality Stadium.
Joshua King impressed in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign, with the Norwegian striker scoring 16 goals in 36 appearances for the Cherries. King provided two assists for his teammates in the process as well.
Highlighted Team (Maribor):
Founded in December 1960, Maribor are the most successful Slovenian club. The Violets won their 14th SNL trophy in 2017, with the team finishing the season 13 points clear of second-placed Gorica. Maribor are the only Slovenian club which made it to the UEFA Champions League group stages (2013/2014), but the likes of Chelsea, Schalke and Sporting Lisbon proved to be a big catch for the Slovenian champions.
The Violets collected only three points from possible 18 in the process and four years later they repeated the success, with the team eliminating Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League play-offs. Maribor will face the likes of Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Liverpool in Group E. Speaking of the club’s main rivals, there have always been fireworks in clashes between Maribor and Olimpija Ljubljana.
The two teams face each other in the “Eternal derby” (Vecni derbi) and they represent the two biggest cities in Slovenia. Maribor are well known for their violet for their violet shirts with yellow stripes. Ljudski vrt is the club’s home ground.
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
Manchester United 
Everton
