Ajax v Fenerbahçe background

Still without a win in UEFA Europa League Group A, AFC Ajax will look to maintain their 100% home record against Turkish sides when they meet Fenerbahçe SK.

Previous meetings
• Substitute Fernandão scored at the death as Fenerbahçe prevailed 1-0 in Istanbul on matchday three. It was Ajax's first defeat in nine games against Turkish clubs.

• The teams' only previous UEFA meetings came in the second round of the 1968/69 European Champion Clubs' Cup, Rinus Michels' Ajax beating Ignác Molnár's Fenerbahçe 2-0 home and away.

• Ajax's eight-game winning streak against Turkish opposition is thus over, but they have triumphed in all four of their previous home fixtures versus Süper Lig teams by an aggregate score of 11-1.

• Fenerbahçe's record in 17 games against Dutch opponents is W5 D3 L9 (W1 D2 L5 in the Netherlands). That sole away success came on their most recent visit – 1-0 at FC Twente in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League group stage.

Form guide
• If Ajax fail to beat Fenerbahçe, and Molde FK overcome Celtic FC again, the Norwegian outfit will be guaranteed a round of 32 place.

• Ajax are without a win in four European games (D3 L1).

• Fenerbahçe have won only one of their last seven European away contests (W1 D3 L3) – 1-0 at Atromitos FC in this season's UEFA Europa League play-offs.

• Both sides entered the UEFA Europa League play-offs following elimination from the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

• Ajax have made it through to the round of 32 in all three of their previous UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns. They have featured at one stage or another in the last nine editions of the competition, meaning they are the only ever-present club in the seven seasons of the UEFA Europa League.

• Semi-finalists in 2012/13, Fenerbahçe have advanced to the round of 32 in all three of their UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns (2006/07, 2009/10 and 2012/13).

Trivia and links
• The journey from Istanbul to Amsterdam is around 2,200km.

• Fenerbahçe winger Nani and Villarreal CF's Samuel Castillejo were fouled 11 times in the first three matchdays – more than any other players in the group stage.

• Fenerbahçe reserve goalkeeper Ertuğrul Taşkıran turns 26 on the day of the game.

• Fenerbahçe's Michal Kadlec can make his 50^th UEFA club competition appearance on matchday four. Team-mate Gökhan Gönül reached that mark last time out.

• Fenerbahçe defender Simon Kjær could come up against Denmark team-mates Viktor Fischer, Nicolai Boilesen and Lasse Schöne.

The coaches
• Frank de Boer has been in charge of Ajax since 2010, and in 2014 became the first coach to lead the club to four successive Eredivisie titles. The defender lifted the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League as an Ajax player.

• De Boer played for Fenerbahçe's city rivals Galatasaray SK in 2003/04, scoring one goal in 15 Süper Lig outings.

• Fenerbahçe coach since June, Portuguese technician Vítor Pereira was André Villas-Boas's assistant when FC Porto won the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League. He later claimed two league titles as the Dragons' coach and a domestic double in Greece with Olympiacos FC in 2014/15.