Fenerbahce welcome Alanyaspor to the Ulker Stadium on 17 October 2026 for Turkish Super Lig Week 8, sitting fourth on 13 points from seven matches and trailing the leaders after a mixed start. Alanyaspor arrive in seventh on 12 points, four games unbeaten before dropping points in their most recent outing, though protecting a respectable mid table position will be the ceiling of their ambitions here.
Fenerbahce enter this fixture having won three of their last five league games, capped by a 3-0 victory over Rizespor on 10 October following an 8-0 thrashing of Eyupspor on 20 September. When they are good at home, they are very good. Alanyaspor's form over the same period is more modest, ending in a 0-0 draw with Erzurumspor on 10 October that about sums them up: a side content to grind results through structure and comfortable in low scoring games.
No head to head data exists for Ismail Kartal and Joao Pereira, both relatively new to their respective roles, with Kartal taking charge of Fenerbahce on 26 June 2026 to replace interim manager Zeki Murat Gole and Pereira having led Alanyaspor since 22 March 2025.
Fenerbahce are missing two players who would normally start, with Jayden Oosterwolde out through an Achilles injury and Matteo Guendouzi suspended after three yellow cards, leaving the midfield without its main ball winner and forcing adjustments in both defensive shape and central control. Alanyaspor have concerns of their own, with Maestro a doubt through a thigh issue and Fatih Aksoy also uncertain, which could leave their midfield thin in what is already a demanding away fixture.
Fenerbahce play a possession based game, with full backs pushed high and Vedat Muriqi leading the line. Mason Greenwood cuts inside from wide areas to link with midfield runners and without Guendouzi and Oosterwolde, expect the right side to carry more of the attacking load. Alanyaspor's recent 0-0 draw is the clearest indication of how they are set up defensively: they are hard to score against, organised and happy to make the game ugly. Gaius Makouta anchors the midfield and arrives late into shooting positions, while Florent Hadergjonaj operates at right wing back. If Maestro and Aksoy are both unavailable, Alanyaspor will be narrower through the middle, which makes Fenerbahce's wide play more dangerous and narrows the contest to a few clear individual battles: Muriqi against Alanyaspor's centre backs and Greenwood against whoever is assigned to track his runs.
Fenerbahce have won 9 of the last 13 meetings, staying unbeaten in nine straight against this opponent, a record that reflects both the gap in squad quality and a home advantage that has rarely needed explaining.
Alanyaspor are dangerous from set pieces, a particular concern with Oosterwolde absent and a controlled start makes more sense for Fenerbahce than going all out from the whistle. Alanyaspor will try to frustrate early by staying tight and looking to counter.
Fenerbahce to win 2-0. Fenerbahce's tendency to recycle possession until a gap opens on the right should create enough space for Greenwood to operate behind the defensive line, with Muriqi the likeliest to open the scoring from a wide ball or cut back after sustained pressure. Greenwood's tendency to drag defenders wide before cutting back creates space for arriving midfielders, which is the most likely route to a second. Alanyaspor's potential midfield absences make it harder for them to hold the compact lines that have served them well this season and while they will defend solidly for long stretches, nine straight meetings without a win against this opponent suggests they rarely find the answer at the Ulker Stadium.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
