Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe: Preview, Prediction & Lineups | Süper Lig 2025/26
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Match Preview
The Turkish Süper Lig action heads to the Black Sea coast this Sunday as Çaykur Rizespor host title-chasing Fenerbahçe.1 The visitors arrive in Rize sitting 2nd in the table, unbeaten in the league but trailing leaders Galatasaray by a single point.2 With the pressure of the title race heating up, dropping points here is not an option for the Yellow Canaries.
For Rizespor, currently 10th, this season has been a rollercoaster.3 While Ilhan Palut’s side has shown flashes of brilliance—including a gritty 2-2 draw against Gaziantep last week—they have struggled to find consistency. Facing a Fenerbahçe side that has scored 25 goals this season will be their toughest test yet. Can the “Black Sea Sparrowhawks” clip the wings of the Istanbul giants, or will Fenerbahçe’s star-studded attack prove too potent?
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe
- Competition: Süper Lig (Matchweek 13)
- Venue: Çaykur Didi Stadyumu, Rize (Capacity: 15,558)
- Date: Sunday, 23 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 17:00 TRT / 14:00 GMT / 19:30 IST
- Referee: Çağdaş Altay
- VAR: Koray Gençerler (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): BeIN Sports
- TV Channel (USA): BeIN Sports USA, Fanatiz
- TV Channel (India): FanCode, JioStar
- Live Stream: BeIN Connect, JioStar (India)
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Çaykur Rizespor:
- Position: 10th in Süper Lig (14 Points).7
- Form: Mixed. They are unbeaten in their last 4 home games but have drawn too many (5 draws this season).
- Current Challenge: Finding a replacement for key playmaker Ibrahim Olawoyin (questionable) and stopping Fenerbahçe’s league-best attack without getting exposed on the break.
Fenerbahçe:
- Position: 2nd in Süper Lig (28 Points).8
- Form: Relentless. Coming off a 4-2 win vs Kayserispor and a solid 0-0 draw vs Viktoria Plzeň in Europe.9
- Current Challenge: Managing the squad depth with Sebastian Szymański injured. The Polish midfielder is the creative engine, and his absence leaves a massive hole in the #10 role.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — What’s at Stake
For Çaykur Rizespor:
- Top Half Consolidation: A win would vault them into the conversation for European spots (7th-8th place). A loss keeps them stuck in mid-table mediocrity.
For Fenerbahçe:
- Keeping Pace: With Galatasaray winning yesterday, the gap is temporarily 4 points. Fenerbahçe must win to cut it back to 1 point. Any slip-up could be fatal in this two-horse title race.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Team Form
Çaykur Rizespor (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Gaziantep (2-2)
- W vs Karagümrük (1-0)10
- W vs Karaköprü (3-0 – Cup)
- D vs Samsunspor (1-1)11
- D vs Başakşehir (0-0)
Fenerbahçe (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Kayserispor (4-2)
- D vs Viktoria Plzeň (0-0)
- W vs Beşiktaş (3-2)
- W vs Gaziantep (4-0)12
- W vs Stuttgart (1-0)
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Team News
Çaykur Rizespor:
- Nélson Semedo: Out (Yellow Cards Suspension). A huge blow at right-back.
- Halil Dervişoğlu: Questionable (Inactive/Fitness).
- Ibrahim Olawoyin: Questionable (Injury). If he misses out, Rizespor loses their main creative outlet.
- Ali Sowe: Available. The striker is in form and expected to start.
Fenerbahçe:
- Sebastian Szymański: Out (Muscle Injury). The biggest news. Tadić or Fred may have to play more centrally.
- Cenk Tosun: Out (Inactive/Fitness).
- Fred: Available. Returned to form with a brace last week.
- Youssef En-Nesyri: Available. Expected to lead the line over Džeko for his pace on the counter.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Head to Head
- 02 Feb 2025: Fenerbahçe 3–2 Rizespor13
- 26 Aug 2024: Rizespor 0–5 Fenerbahçe14
- 17 Feb 2024: Rizespor 1–3 Fenerbahçe15
- 01 Oct 2023: Fenerbahçe 5–0 Rizespor16
- 19 Jan 2023: Fenerbahçe 2–1 Rizespor (Cup)17
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Predicted Lineups
Çaykur Rizespor (4-2-3-1):
With Semedo suspended, Taha Şahin likely steps in at right-back. If Olawoyin can’t go, Varesanovic takes the #10 spot.
- GK: Ivo Grbić
- RB: Taha Şahin
- CB: Attila Mocsi18
- CB: Husniddin Aliqulov
- LB: Casper Højer19
- CDM: Giannis Papanikolaou20
- CDM: Amir Hadžiahmetović21
- RW: Altin Zeqiri
- CAM: Dal Varešanović22
- LW: Emrecan Bulut23
- ST: Ali Sowe24
Fenerbahçe (4-2-3-1):
Without Szymański, Dušan Tadić likely drifts inside to the #10 role, allowing Saint-Maximin and İrfan Can Kahveci to play on the wings.
- GK: Dominik Livaković
- RB: Mert Müldür
- CB: Alexander Djiku
- CB: Rodrigo Becão
- LB: Ferdi Kadıoğlu (or Oosterwolde)
- CDM: Sofyan Amrabat25
- CDM: Fred26
- RW: İrfan Can Kahveci
- CAM: Dušan Tadić (Captain)
- LW: Allan Saint-Maximin
- ST: Youssef En-Nesyri
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Impact Bench Options
Çaykur Rizespor:
- Martin Minchev: The Bulgarian winger offers pace off the bench if Rizespor is chasing a goal.
- Muammer Sarıkaya: Solid midfield option to close out the game if they are holding a draw.
Fenerbahçe:
- Edin Džeko: The veteran striker is the ultimate “Plan B.” If Fenerbahçe needs a goal in the last 20 minutes, his aerial threat is unmatched.
- Cengiz Ünder: Deadly left foot from the right wing, perfect for breaking down a tired defense.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Tactical Outlook
Çaykur Rizespor:
- Playing Style: Disciplined Counter-Attack. At home, Rizespor will try to frustrate Fenerbahçe with a compact 4-4-2 shape without the ball. They rely heavily on Casper Højer’s set-piece delivery and Ali Sowe’s hold-up play to relieve pressure.
- Weakness: Right Flank Vulnerability. With first-choice RB Semedo suspended, Fenerbahçe’s Saint-Maximin will look to roast the replacement (Şahin) 1v1 all game.
Fenerbahçe:
- Playing Style: Dominant Possession with Vertical Thrust. Even without Szymański, they have creators everywhere. Fred will drive the ball from deep, looking to release En-Nesyri behind the defense. Expect them to overload the left side with Ferdi and Saint-Maximin.
- Strength: Set Pieces. Fenerbahçe leads the league in goals from corners (Djiku/Becão headers). Rizespor has struggled to defend aerial balls.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Taha Şahin vs. Allan Saint-Maximin | Mismatch Alert: Şahin is a backup; ASM is one of the best dribblers in the world. If Rizespor doesn’t double-team him, it’s game over. | Fenerbahçe |
| Giannis Papanikolaou vs. Dušan Tadić | The Chess Match: Papanikolaou must stick to Tadić like glue. If Tadić finds space “in the hole” to turn, he will pick Rizespor apart. | Fenerbahçe |
| Attila Mocsi vs. Youssef En-Nesyri | Aerial Duel: En-Nesyri is a monster in the air. Mocsi has to be physical and stop him from winning free headers. | Even |
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Spotlight Players
Ali Sowe (Çaykur Rizespor):
The Gambian striker is Rizespor’s primary weapon. He has the strength to bully defenders and holds the key to their counter-attack. If he can occupy Becão and Djiku, it opens space for the wingers.
Fred (Fenerbahçe):
With Szymański out, Fred becomes the most important player on the pitch. His energy, box-to-box running, and late arrivals into the penalty area will be crucial. He scored two goals recently and looks in peak form.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Fan Reactions
Çaykur Rizespor Fans:
“Semedo out is a nightmare against Saint-Maximin. We need to park the bus and pray for a set-piece goal.”
“A draw against this Fener super-team would be like a win for us.”
Fenerbahçe Fans:
“No Szymański is tough, but Tadić is a magician. We have too much quality to drop points in Rize.”
“Just win. I don’t care if it’s 1-0 or 5-0. Galatasaray won, so we have to respond.”
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Where to Watch
- Turkey: BeIN Sports 1
- USA: BeIN Sports
- India: JioStar (App/Web), FanCode
- UK: BeIN Sports
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Match-Defining Factors
- The Szymański Void: Can Tadić replicate Szymański’s pressing and creativity centrally? If Fenerbahçe’s midfield looks stagnant, Rizespor will grow in confidence.
- The “Rize” Rain: Weather often plays a part in Rize. A heavy pitch could slow down Fenerbahçe’s passing game, favoring Rizespor’s physical style.
- Early Goal: Fenerbahçe has scored in the first 30 minutes in their last 4 away games. If they score early, Rizespor will have to open up, which could lead to a rout.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Prediction
Score Prediction: Çaykur Rizespor 1–3 Fenerbahçe
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Fenerbahçe to Win (Too much firepower despite injuries).
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Fenerbahçe scores for fun; Rizespor defense is weakened).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Youssef En-Nesyri (Look for him to score a header).
Analysis: Rizespor will fight hard at home, but the suspension of Semedo at right-back is a tactical disaster against Saint-Maximin. Fenerbahçe might start slow without Szymański, but their individual quality in the final third will eventually overwhelm the hosts. Expect a comfortable win for the visitors.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — Final Word
This is a potential “trap game” for Fenerbahçe, but champions find a way to win these matches. Çaykur Rizespor has the spirit to make it difficult, but lacking their starting right-back and potentially their best playmaker (Olawoyin) tips the scales heavily. Expect Jose Mourinho’s (or his successor’s) machine to keep rolling and stay on Galatasaray’s heels.
Çaykur Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe — FAQs
When is the Rizespor vs Fenerbahçe match?
The match kicks off on Sunday, 23 November 2025, at 17:00 TRT (19:30 IST).27
Is Sebastian Szymański playing?
No, Szymański is ruled out with a muscle injury. Dušan Tadić is expected to replace him in the #10 role.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch the match live on the JioStar app or FanCode.
Who is the referee?
Çağdaş Altay will officiate the match.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can Rizespor pull off the upset, or will Fener keep the title race alive? Drop your score predictions below!
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