FC Copenhagen vs Istanbul Başakşehir 06/08/20

06 August 2020

FC Copenhagen welcome Istanbul Başakşehir to the Telia Parken for the return leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, hoping to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the reverse fixture.

It would take something special from Copenhagen to turn their fortunes around, considering they’ve lost six of nine UEFA competition ties in which they lost the first leg on the road. The hosts have been quite impressive on home tuft in Europe this season, though. Except for a 1-0 defeat to Malmo, the Danish giants have avoided defeat in the remaining six European home fixtures (W3, D3) hence improving an overall Europa League home record that had previously stood at W6, D4, L9. But, a genuine lack of firepower up front has seen Copenhagen net under 1.5 goals eight of nine European matches this season, qualifying excluded. Additionally, just four of the nine goals they’ve scored in the competition so far have come at home, with each arriving in the opening ten minutes of either first or second half of play.

Meanwhile, despite succumbing to two horror defeats to Roma (0-4 A, 0-3 H), the visitors finished top of Group J (W3, D1, L1) thanks to a comeback 2-1 away win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Matchday 6. In turn, the Turkish side performed another sensational turnaround to eliminate Sporting Lisbon in the first knockout stage round despite losing 3-1 in the first leg in Portugal. However, Başakşehir lament quite a disappointing away record in Europe, having picked up only three wins from 14 continental trips so far (D3, L8). Yet, they’ve been an exciting team to watch on the road this term, as all four of their Europa League trips this season have featured over 2.5 goals (W2, L2).