Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Lugano
Match Time & Date:
23/07/2024
20:30
Prediction: 1-2
Fenerbahce
There will be fireworks when Lugano and Fenerbahce go head to head in the Champions League second qualifying round, first leg. Lugano kicked off the new Swiss Super League campaign in great manner, with the team beating Grasshoppers 2-1 at home ground, but they face a difficult task against the Turkish powerhouse. Midfielder Anto Grgic is pushing for a start after coming as a substitute at the weekend.
Fenerbahce, on the other hand, rolled over Strasbourg (4-0) and Hull City (5-1) in the last two warm-up games. The Yellow Canaries look unstoppable at the moment and given Jose Mourinho’s experience in European competitions, away win should definitely be considered. A man to keep an eye on in the away team will be loan signing Allan Saint-Maximin, who is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. Veteran Edin Dzeko is widely expected to lead the line for the Turkish vice-champions.
Highlighted Player (Rade Krunic):
Rade Krunic is a product of Sutjeska Foca youth football school. The Bosnia international was born in Foca on October 7, 1993 and 19 years later he made his senior debut with his hometown club Sutjeska.
After scoring three goals in 15 appearances for the Bosnian club, the Bosnian midfielder moved to Serbian side Donji Srem in 2013. In 2014 he signed a contract with Italian side Hellas Verona, but he was immediately loaned back to Donji Srem. In 2015 Rade Krunic made 13 appearances for Serbian side Borac Cacak before joining yet another Italian team Empoli.
He has been playing for the Azzurri ever since and it has to be noted that he scored his first goal for the Serie A side in a 2-0 win over Genoa in October, 2015. Speaking of his international career, Krunic made his Bosnia and Herzegovina debut in a friendly against Denmark on June 3, 2016. He has 8 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 team as well.
Highlighted Team (Fenerbahce):
Fenerbahce are one of the biggest football clubs in Turkey. The Kanaryalar were founded on 3 May, 1907 as Fenerbahce Futbol Kulubu. Fener won their first domestic trophy in 1959 and they quickly established themselves as one of the main forces in Turkish football.
In 2014 Fenerbahce clinched their 19th league title, with the team finishing the season nine points clear of Besiktas. Galatasaray are considered Fener’s bitterest rivals and the two teams face each other in Kitalar Arasi Derbi. The rivalry between the clubs started back in 1934, when a friendly between the two teams was abandoned due to riots. Besiktas are regarded as Fenerbahce’s big rivals as well.
The likes of Mujdat Yetkiner, Zeki Riza Sporel, Aykut Kocaman, Emre Belozoglu, Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Diego Lugano, Roberto Carlos and Dirk Kuyt are famous footballers who played for the club in the past. The Kanaryalar play their home games at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, the venue that was opened in 1908. Fener’s home kits are navy blue and yellow.
Monza 
Juventus
