The duality of a club: Ferencváros, the winner of the last seven Hungarian championship titles, are currently in just third place in their domestic league. Over the weekend, they lost to relegation-battling Nyíregyháza Spartacus at home.
Yet, in their UEFA Europa League league phase campaign, they have yet to face their first challenger who could defeat them. This held true even after their most recent game, an away clash against Fenerbahçe SK in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday, 27 November.
The Turkish side features such talent as UCL winners Marco Asensio in midfield (he won the trophy four times, actually, with Real Madrid) and Brazilian international Ederson in goal; or Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri up front, who won the Europa League twice with the Spanish club Sevilla.
Yet, even in front of their famously loud and ferocious fans, they could not do what Nyíregyháza did just a few days ago: that is, beat Fradi.
It was Fener who created the first threat on goal with a couple of long-range shots, which were successfully dealt with by Ferencváros goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz. Then, in a turn of events, Fradi hit the woodwork twice in quick succession. It was Bamidele Yusuf who was the ‘culprit’ both times: first, from just a couple of yards out, then, from about 15 yards out. Anyhow, the score remained goalless for the first half.
The deadlock was eventually broken by the Hungarian champions, and in the least surprising fashion. Barnabás Varga headed a cross from Gabi Kanichowsky’s corner into the net in the 66th minute. This was his 14th (!) headed goal in the season for club or national team.
However, Fradi’s advantage did not last for long. Just three minutes later, Talisca answered quickly, finishing into the far bottom corner from around 14 yards out. Fener came close to finding the winner as well, hitting the crossbar near the end.
Ferencváros still have no reason for doom and gloom—on the European front, that is. After five rounds, they are sitting unbeaten in 6th place on the Europa League league phase table with three wins and two draws, which would grant them an automatic spot in the Round of 16.
‘I never travel anywhere with the aim of getting a draw, that is not my mentality. However, having said that, you need to be grounded in reality. In the first half, we created two or three great chances; we could have been up by two goals. Meanwhile, our opponents did not have any really dangerous chances in front of our goal. It is very hard to win in this stadium, given the circumstances, and the unbelievable atmosphere. The players did everything great, in offence and defence as well,’ FTC head coach Robbie Keane said after the game, as quoted by the Hungarian sports daily Nemzeti Sport.
Next up: the Scottish team Rangers at home on 11 December.
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