Fenerbahce SK secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in their first-ever meeting, extending their impressive home form to four consecutive wins in the UEFA Europa League. The match at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium was a high-octane clash, featuring early Stuttgart pressure, a decisive penalty, and moments of drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Stuttgart Start Strong, But Fenerbahce Strike on Counters
The visitors began the game with clear attacking intent, forcing Fenerbahce to absorb early pressure. However, it was the hosts’ counter-attacks that threatened first. Dorgeles Nene sprinted past Stuttgart’s defense, only to see his shot comfortably saved by goalkeeper Alexander Nubel. Moments later, Youssef En-Nesyri unleashed a powerful effort that also ended in Nubel’s hands.
Penalty Drama Decides the Match
Stuttgart’s persistent attacking efforts nearly paid off when Luca Jaquez’s header skimmed past Ederson’s right post. Yet the defining moment came when Angelo Stiller fouled Milan Skriniar in the penalty area. Kerem Akturkoglu calmly converted from the spot, marking his fourth European goal of the season, including a memorable strike that eliminated Fenerbahce from last season’s Champions League qualifiers while at Benfica.
Tense Second Half and Missed Opportunities
The first half ended with Stuttgart failing to respond, despite narrowly avoiding another penalty call. A similar situation unfolded later when Stiller went down under Edson Alvarez’s challenge. Both sides had chances to change the scoreline, with Deniz Undav misfiring a promising Stuttgart counter created by Bilal El Khannouss. Fenerbahce, however, controlled the closing stages, preventing any serious threats from the visitors.
Fenerbahce’s Continued Home Dominance
The victory extended Fenerbahce’s unbeaten home streak to 11 matches and reinforced their resurgence in European competition after an opening-day loss to Dinamo Zagreb. Stuttgart, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive away defeat in the Europa League, a disappointing outcome following their recent four-game winning run in the Bundesliga.
