A final chance to add further gloss for Fener, as Klaer stands over a free-kick… His effort is a good one, but it curls just wide of the right-hand upright.
90' +1
News of another goal for Manchester United, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic having all-but secured their place as runners up in Group A.
89'
Demirel is called into action once again, as Kramer flicks Karsdorp’s corner goal-wards, but the Fener shot-stopper makes an easy stop.
86'
R. Neustädter enters the game and replaces M. Topal.
A third and final change for the visitors. Mehmet Topal, struggling with what appears to be a growing strain, makes way, and he is replaced by former Ajax defender Roman Neustadter.
85'
Tame again from El Ahmadi who, after picking up a good position 18-yards out, can only direct hi effort straight at Demirel.
84'
CLOSE! Great play again from Sow, who powers down the left-hand side of Feyenoord’s box before lofting in a cross. Kaldirim had made a fantastic run into the six-yard box, but the full-back was just unable to meet the delivery.
82'
V. Şen gets yellow.
A ridiculous booking here for Sen, as the petulant winger needlessly trips Nelom, claiming that the Feyenoord defender had attempted to elbow him.
81'
Just under 10 minutes remain now at De Kuip, and as it stands, it will be Fenerbahce who head through as Group A winners, with Manchester United joining them in the knockout stages.
78'
M. Škrtel gets yellow.
Fener are sitting very deep at the moment, but do look comfortable against Feyenoord’s lacklustre attack.
A definite booking for Skrtel, who lunged in late on Kuyt. There was no love lost between the former teammates on that occasion!
76'
Another change now - this time for the hosts. On comes Michiel Kramer, with Tonny Vilhena making way.
Minute
Description
75'
E. Emenike enters the game and replaces R. van Persie.
V. Demirel gets yellow.
M. Kramer enters the game and replaces T. Vilhena.
A second substitution in quick succession now, as Van Persie - who of course came through the ranks at Feyenoord before moving on to pastures new at Arsenal - makes way. Emmanuel Emenike comes on in his place.
Demirel has picked up a booking now, after taking too long over a goal-kick.
72'
Souza and Topal have been excellent for Fener tonight, but the latter got it wrong there. Ozbayrakli was in acres of space down the right, but the midfielder could not pick out the full-back, and the chance went begging.
70'
V. Şen enters the game and replaces J. Lens.
A first change of the game now from Advocaat, who replaces Jeremain Lens with Volkan Sen.
69'
CLOSE! Vilhena does brilliantly down the right to find space and drive in a dangerous cross, but Kuyt can only head his effort into the side-netting.
67'
Superb work from Sow, who gets back to help his defence out before leading a Fener counter. He drives forward before feed Kaldirim, but the full-back only has Van Persie to aim for, and Jones collects the cross with ease.
65'
Elia was at the heart of Feyenoord’s play in the first-half, but he has hardly had a kick since the interval. However, he does well on this occasion to lay the ball off to Nelom, who in turn floats an inviting cross towards the back post. Basacikoglu meets it with a towering header, but the youngster is deemed to have fouled Kaldirim.
63'
Not too far away from Kuyt, who curls an effort just over from the cusp of the area. Demirel looked to have had it covered anyway, though, and Feyenoord are becoming more and more desperate.
61'
Well wide from Karsdorp who, perhaps in an attempt to atone for his earlier error, elects to shoot from range on his weaker left foot, and skews his effort way off-target.
59'
Basacikoglu is one of the Eredivisie’s most promising talents, but the Turkish winger has been unable to get on the ball much so far. Finally, he manages to find some space and tee up El Ahmadi, who again goes for goal from range, but once more Demirel makes a comfortable save.
56'
A yellow card for Dirk Kuyt, now, who goes into the book for dissent.
55'
D. Kuijt gets yellow.
Finally, an attempt on goal from Feyenoord, as El Ahmadi tries his luck from range. Demirel, though, got down sharply to make a good stop.
53'
More positive play from Fener, who have not allowed Feyenoord to venture out of their own half so far since the restart. Van Persie looks to pick out Sow with a dipping cross, but Jones is equal to it.
50'
An update from the other game in Group A now, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan having opened his Manchester United account with a goal against Zorya Luhansk. As it stands, though, Fener would still top the group.
48'
Fener have once again started on the front-foot, pressing Feyenoord at every opportunity, and not allowing their hosts any room to operate.
46'
B. Başaçıkoğlu enters the game and replaces J. Toornstra.
Welcome back! The second-half is up and running at De Kuip, where there has been one change for Feyenoord at the interval, with Bilal Basacikoglu coming on in place of Jens Toornstra, as the hosts search to salvage their European campaign.
45'
CLOSE! Agonising for Feyenoord, as Vilhena’s wonderful first-time strike clatters away off the left-hand upright.
44'
How did that not go in? Last-ditch, scrappy defending from Fener, who somehow escape unscathed after Toornstra’s corner fell to Kuyt in the six-yard box. The veteran couldn’t get his shot away, so teed up Van Der Heijden, but the defender’s effort was blocked on the line.
43'
A lapse in concentration from Kjaer very nearly costs Fener - Elia pouncing on the loose ball before bamboozling Ozbayrakli with some wonderful footwork. The winger drills in a low cross, but the ball is just prodded away from Vilhena by Souza.
40'
A bit of luck there for Feyenoord, after Topal is bizarrely penalised for what appeared to be a fair and perfectly legal shoulder-barge, with Fener’s midfielder having won the ball back deep in the hosts’ territory.
38'
A first booking of the game now, as Souza correctly receives a caution for a cynical trip on Kuyt.
37'
Souza gets yellow.
The resulting corner comes to nothing, but the hosts recycle the ball and look to edge forward once more. However, as soon as they reach the edge of Fener’s area, the move breaks down.
35'
Feyenoord are calm and composed in possession, but they must inject some more urgency into their play if they are to trouble Fener, who look a real threat whenever they go forward. The visitors have some defending to do at the moment, though, after Skrtel deflected Toornstra’s cross out of play...
33'
Sublime play from Fener, as Souza pulls the strings from deep with a delightful pass into Lens. The winger takes the ball down excellently on his chest before flicking the ball into the path of the overlapping Ozbayrakli, but Van Persie is unable to turn home the full-back’s cross.
31'
Brave play from Jones, who comes out swiftly to deny Sow any chance of getting onto the end of Souza’s pass. He takes out the striker, along with Botteghin, but still manages to win the free-kick.
29'
Feyenoord have had a let off there, and must now look to haul themselves back into this contest. Elia tries his best with a weaving run towards goal, with Kjaer’s tackle rebounding out to Kurt, but the Dutchman’s former Liverpool teammate Skrtel is on hand to make the block.
26'
CHANCE! Dreadful marking from Feyenoord allows Kjaer to connect with Lens’ corner, and the Denmark defender’s header would have doubled Fener’s tally if not for a finger-tip save by Jones.
24'
Fener have stepped up a gear since taking the lead, and although it is Feyenoord who desperately need a win, the visitors look well in control at the moment.
22'
M. Sow has scored a goal for Fenerbahce!
GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!! Magnificent from Sow! What an effort that is from Fener’s forward. He netted a superb bicycle-kick against Manchester United earlier in the season, and he has repeated his acrobatics at De Kuip, volleying home an overhead finish after Karsdorp’s awful attempt at a back-pass.
21'
It’s a clever delivery by Toornstra, who forces Demirel to punch the ball clear from under his cross-bar. Sow cannot clear the loose ball, and Feyenoord get it back into the area, but this time Demirel gathers it in.
20'
Twenty minutes gone then at De Kuip, and it has been a fairly even contest so far, though Fener have created two rather clear-cut chances. Elia, meanwhile, is continuing to cause Ozbayrakli all sorts of problems down the left, and has just won a free-kick for Feyenoord in a dangerous position...
18'
Reckless play from Vilhena breaks down a promising move from Feyenoord. The youngster had done well to get forward and latch onto Nelom’s throughball, but needlessly proceeded to foul Lens after the former Sunderland winger had regained possession for Fener.
15'
SAVE! That is a superb stop by Demirel, who does brilliantly to keep out Toornstra’s header, and Skrtel manages to clear.
13'
Fener have grown into this game now, with Lens becoming more and more involved in proceedings, and Feyenoord’s defence looks shaky to say the least...
11'
CHANCE! Lens capitalises on sloppy Feyenoord defending, and is brought down blatantly by Botteghin. Incorrectly, no penalty is awarded, but Fener play advantage, only for Jones to make a fine stop from Sow’s strike.
9'
Fener seem content with allowing their hosts time and space on the ball, seemingly confident in their ability to see-off Feyenoord’s attack, and present a threat themselves on the counter.
7'
Elia is proving a real handful down Feyenoord’s left flank, with the hosts constantly looking to utilise the winger’s pace to get in behind Fener. However, he concedes possession on this occasion, and the visitors break. Sow fails to put in a cross, but Kaldrim succeeds - picking out Potuk, who can only find the side-netting.
5'
Bright play from Elia, who squares up Ozbayrakli before breezing past the full-back with ease, but the cross that follows is a poor one, and Fener clear their lines.
3'
A crunching challenger from Van Persie to get us started, as the former Arsenal striker dives in on his compatriot Vilhena - winning the ball, but taking the man out also. He escapes a booking, however.
1'
And… we’re off! Feyenoord, donning their sky-blue away strip despite being at home, getting proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome, football fans, to LIVE coverage of the Europa League clash between Feyenoord and Fenerbahce. There is still plenty to play for in Group A, with three teams vying to secure progression. So sit back, relax, and stick right here for all the action as it happens!
Group A is wide open as it stands, with Fener heading into the final round of fixtures in top spot on 10 points, one ahead of Manchester United - who need just a point from their clash with Zorya Luhansk to seal their place in the knockout stages. Feyenoord are third, having amassed seven points from their five games so far, and a victory this evening could see them through - though only if it is by a two-goal margin or more, due to Fener's better head-to-head record.
Fener triumphed 1-0 in Istanbul in the reverse fixture, Emmanuel Emenike netting the only goal of the game back in September. Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord have gone on to lose just twice since that clash - though that included a 4-0 thumping at the hands of United in their most-recent Europa League outing.
TEAM NEWS - Feyenoord (4-3-3): Jones; Karsdorp, Van Der Heijden, Nelom, Botteghin; Vilhena, Kuyt, Ahmadi; Elia, Jorgensen, Toornstra.
The team news is in now from De Kuip, so let’s check on the line-ups...
No changes then from Feyenoord boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who retains the same starting XI that hammered Sparta Rotterdam in the local derby last time out in the Eredivisie.
TEAM NEWS - Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Demirel; Ozbayrakli, Kjaer, Skrtel, Kaldrim; Topal, Souza; Lens, Potuk, Sow; Van Persie.
TEAM NEWS - Fenerbahce substitutes: Tufan, Sen, Koybasi, Van der Wiel, Emenike, Neustadter, Fabiano.
Just the one change for Fener, who drew 0-0 with Besiktas in their last league fixture. Aatif Chahechouhe drops out, with Jeremain Lens - who was prolific in the Eredivise when at PSV Eindhoven - starting on the left flank. Emenike, who scored Fener’s winner in the reverse fixture, is on the bench.
There is a very Dutch feel about Fener’s squad, with manager Dick Advocat returning to his home nation, while Lens and Van Persie are, of course, also natives - with the latter having spent time at Feyenoord in his early years. Hosts’ skipper Dirk Kuyt, meanwhile, is facing his former club.
A moment of silence now, as both sets of players and supporters alike pay their respects to the players and staff of Chapecoense that lost their lives in the plane-crash in Colombia last week.
HALF-TIME! We’ve reached the half-way stage at De Kuip, where Sow’s acrobatic effort has given Fener a 1-0 lead heading into the interval. The Turkish giants have been the better of the two sides, though Feyenoord began to threaten in the closing stages of the first-half, with Vilhena hitting the woodwork.
Van Bronckhorst has lots of work to do at the interval, with his side needing to score three times - without conceding - to secure a place in the knockout stages. As for Fener, they are heading through as group leaders as it stands.
FULL TIME! It is all over at De Kuip, and it is all over in Group A. Feyenoord are out, having failed to impress against a resilient Fenerbahce, who will return to Turkey with all three points thanks to Moussa Sow’s excellent strike.
With Manchester United having won in Ukraine, the Premier League side have finished the group with 12 points, one behind Fener, who claim top spot.
As for Feyenoord, they will be disappointed with their efforts this evening, but will look back to the points they threw away against Zorya as the turning point in their bid to qualify from a tough group.
Well, that’s all from me for now. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
Commentary
More…