Preview of the play-off second leg

"After the 0:2 in the first leg, nobody trusts us in Istanbul. I believe that this can be an opportunity for us," emphasises coach Manfred Schmid.

The performance in the first encounter a week ago in Vienna gives hope: "We lost the first leg because of individual mistakes. It was a game of few scoring chances. We had a good build-up, were technically good, and the distribution of space was OK. In the final third, we didn't play the passes with the necessary accuracy and determination," Schmid explained.

Fenerbahçe won 4-2 against Adana Demirspor in the league on Monday and are now at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig table with seven points after three rounds. "We also watched this game of our opponent closely. Fenerbahçe have a clear style of play. We know what to expect. They have a lot of quality and a wide squad," said the Austria coach.

The Violets landed in Istanbul early on Wednesday afternoon and completed their final training at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium at 6:00 pm. Manfred Fischer makes it clear: "We came to Istanbul to qualify for the Europa League, we are not here to watch Istanbul. In football, the smaller team always has a chance against the big team.

Manfred Schmid also has high hopes for his team against the Turkish top team: "We have to catch up. I am convinced that we have the quality to play well forward and that we have players in our ranks who can be dangerous in front of goal. I am someone who always believes in his team's chances."

The winner of the play-off qualifies for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, while the loser qualifies for the Conference League. The draw for the Europa League will be made on Friday at 1pm, while the draw for the Conference League will be made at 2.30pm.