NYON: Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce were rewarded for squeezing into the Europa League knockout stage by being drawn Friday to face Anderlecht in a two-leg playoff.
Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format — the last qualification place, and on a tiebreaker of goal difference — and will host the first leg on Feb. 13.
The return game in Brussels is one week later.
Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title, though trails Istanbul rival Galatasaray by six points. Galatasaray also were in Friday’s draw and will face AZ Alkmaar, with the first game in the Netherlands.
Two of Mourinho’s former clubs, Porto and Roma were paired, and Ajax were drawn to face Union Saint-Gilloise which will host the first leg in Belgium.
The playoff round draw involved teams which placed from ninth to 24th over the new eight-game schedule that ended Thursday.
The round of 16 pairings are made on Feb. 21 also involving the top-eight teams in the league phase.
They include two more of Mourinho’s former clubs, Manchester United and Tottenham, plus Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lyon, Olympiakos and Rangers.
Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
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Mourinho and Fenerbahce to face Anderlecht in Europa League playoff round
- Fenerbahce placed 24th in the new 36-standings format and will host the first leg on Feb. 13
- Mourinho was hired to end Fenerbahce’s decade-long wait for a Turkish league title
Ronaldo strikes first as Al-Nassr maintain the pressure on Al-Hilal
- 3-0 away win over Al-Kholood narrows the gap on Riyadh rivals Al-Hilal to 3 points at top of the Saudi Pro League
DUBAI: Al-Nassr beat Al-Kholood 3-0 on Friday to cut Al-Hilal’s lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League to just three points.
The Yellows moved into second place on 43 points from 18 matches, ahead on goal difference of Al-Ahli, who beat Al-Ettifaq 4-0 on Wednesday. League leaders Al-Hilal could only manage a 2-2 draw at Al-Qadsiah on Thursday.
After a goalless first half, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for the visitors two minutes after the break, following an intricate passage of play that concluded with fellow Portuguese forward Joao Felix setting him up from close range.
Al-Nassr’s second came courtesy of another Felix assist, when his corner was headed home firmly by Mohammed Simakan in the 53rd minute.
Felix himself came close to scoring what would have been one of the goals of the season, but his improvised “rabona” attempt was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani.
The home side were reduced to 10 men when Hatan Bahbri was sent off after 72 minutes, before Kingsley Coman wrapped up the scoring a few minutes from the end from the penalty spot.
In Friday night’s other match, home side Neom beat Damac 3-0 to move into ninth place, while the visitors languish in 16th.
Earlier, Al-Taawoun held onto fifth spot in the table with a 1-0 home win over Al-Okhdood, while the visitors remain in trouble in 17th place, second-bottom of the SPL standings.
