Aston Villa Triumphs Over Fenerbahce In Europa League Clash

The Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul was buzzing with anticipation on January 22, 2026, as Fenerbahce hosted Aston Villa in a UEFA Europa League group stage showdown that promised high drama and delivered on every front. Both teams, separated by just four points in the league phase, eyed a coveted top-eight finish to sidestep the perilous play-off round. The stakes? Nothing less than European progression and a chance to rewrite recent history.

Fenerbahce entered the evening in red-hot form, having won 15 of their last 21 matches across all competitions, drawing five and losing only once. Their home record in Europe was formidable: unbeaten this season with victories against OGC Nice (2-1) and VfB Stuttgart (1-0), and a hard-fought draw with Ferencvaros. Under the stewardship of Domenico Tedesco—who took the reins from Jose Mourinho in September—the Turkish giants were sitting second in their domestic league, just a point behind Galatasaray. The optimism in the stands was palpable.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, arrived in Istanbul with their own ambitions. Despite a recent 1-0 loss to Everton that dented their Premier League title chase, the Villans remained third in England’s top flight—seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal. European form had been a bright spot: Villa had lost only one of their six Europa League matches, winning five, and were already guaranteed at least a playoff spot. But with a shot at topping the group, the English side had every reason to go for all three points.

Team news ahead of kickoff had tongues wagging. Fenerbahce’s lineup boasted familiar names for Premier League fans: Ederson, formerly of Manchester City, guarded the net; Nelson Semedo, ex-Wolves, patrolled the defense; Fred, once of Manchester United, anchored the midfield; and up front, ex-Villa forward Jhon Duran was set for a highly anticipated reunion. The starting XI read: Ederson, Muldur, Oosterwolde, Skriniar, Semedo, Yuksek, Fred, Akturkoglu, Asensio, Nene, and Duran. On the bench, the likes of Talisca and Aydin waited for their chance.

Aston Villa, for their part, made several changes from their last Premier League outing. Only Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins retained their spots. The confirmed XI: Bizot, Digne, Mings, Lindelof, Cash, Tielemans, Bogarde, Buendia, Rogers, Sancho, and Watkins. The bench was deep, with Konsa, Torres, and Onana among the options. The absence of key players due to injury—Boubacar Kamar ruled out for the season, John McGinn a major doubt after a knee injury, and Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana, and Jadon Sancho all questionable—meant Unai Emery had to shuffle his deck.

The spotlight inevitably fell on Jhon Duran, whose journey from Villa Park to Istanbul has been nothing short of tumultuous. Once a promising striker at Aston Villa, Duran’s time in England was marred by disciplinary issues. A red card against Newcastle on Boxing Day 2024 became a ‘Sliding Doors moment,’ as described in The Athletic. The fallout was immediate and dramatic: a three-match ban, a chaotic confrontation at half-time involving staff and players from both sides, and a subsequent transfer to Al Nassr. Duran’s move to Fenerbahce—initially hampered by injury—has seen him slowly regain form, but questions about his temperament lingered.

Fenerbahce manager Domenico Tedesco reflected on Duran’s impact: “We could not use him on the pitch because he was injured for the first five or six weeks. But when he was back and fit again, we immediately tried to bring him inside the squad as soon as possible to be together with the team. And then we used him a few minutes against Besiktas, a few moments also the game before. You immediately see the quality.” According to a Fenerbahce source close to the dressing room, “Jhon is a striker who basically has everything. Tall, fast, and a clinical finisher. He’s slowly getting back into form—but it’s not quite enough yet for him to play 90 minutes every three days.”

Another player to watch was Anderson Talisca, a lethal attacker for Fenerbahce with four goals in his last two Europa League outings and 11 in 18 Super Lig appearances. Predictions ahead of the match pegged Talisca as a likely goalscorer, with betting odds of 9/5 for him to find the net at any time. Villa, meanwhile, were expected to strike first, having opened the scoring in each of their last three European away games.

The match itself, broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, was billed as a tactical chess match. Fenerbahce’s home advantage and recent form made them slight favorites at odds of 6/4, but Villa’s attacking prowess and resilience on the road—having beaten Feyenoord and Basel away—could not be discounted. The draw was priced at 12/5, reflecting just how finely balanced this contest was.

As the action unfolded, both sides traded blows in a contest brimming with intensity. Fenerbahce, desperate for all three points to close the gap to the top eight, pressed forward with purpose, while Villa, buoyed by their European exploits, looked to exploit any defensive lapses. The predicted result from several pundits—a 1-1 draw with goals from Talisca and Morgan Rogers—seemed entirely plausible as the minutes ticked by.

Yet, as the final whistle blew, it was Aston Villa who celebrated. According to multiple reports, including The Athletic, Villa secured their place in the Europa League last 16 with a hard-fought win over Fenerbahce. The result not only underlined Villa’s resurgence under Unai Emery but also sent a message to the rest of Europe: the Villans are a force to be reckoned with on the continental stage.

For Fenerbahce, the defeat was a bitter pill, but not the end of their European adventure. With several matches left in the group phase and a squad brimming with experience and talent, the Turkish side still have every chance to make a deep run in the competition. As for Jhon Duran, the reunion with his former club was a personal milestone—a chance to prove that, despite past controversies, his story is far from finished.

The night in Istanbul may have belonged to Aston Villa, but for both clubs—and especially for Duran—it was another twist in a tale where fate, form, and footballing fortunes collide. The Europa League drama rolls on, and fans on both sides will be watching closely to see what comes next.