Fenerbahce 2-1 Nice Player Ratings: Akturkoglu Rated 9.5/10 as His Brace Secures Victory 2-1

In a pulsating Europa League encounter, Fenerbahçe edged out Nice with a 2-1 victory at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The home side burst out of the gates with incredible intensity. It was a performance that caught us, and seemingly Nice, completely by surprise. From our perspective, Fenerbahçe's game plan was executed to near perfection in the opening stages.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Kerem Aktürkoğlu. He opened the scoring just three minutes in, finishing a swift counterattack. He wasn't done, doubling the lead in the 25th minute with another clinical finish. The home crowd was electric, and it felt like the match could turn into a rout.

However, Nice showed resilience. They were handed a lifeline when Milan Skriniar conceded a penalty, which Kevin Carlos coolly converted to make it 2-1. The second half was a much more cagey affair, with both teams having chances but failing to alter the scoreline. This match was a tale of two halves, but Fenerbahçe's blistering start ultimately proved decisive.

Here are Fenerbahce Vs Nice Player Ratings

Fenerbahce Player Ratings vs Nice

Here are Fenerbahce Player Ratings vs Nice

Goalkeeper

Ederson - 6.5: We thought he had a relatively quiet evening for the most part. He couldn't do anything about the penalty, which was struck cleanly down the middle. Made a couple of important saves, especially one in the second half to keep his team's lead intact. His distribution was decent enough, though not spectacular. A solid, if unremarkable, performance between the posts.

Defenders

Nélson Semedo - 6.5: A typical performance from Semedo. He was energetic down the right flank and tried to get involved in attacks. Defensively, he was mostly sound, though he was caught out of position once or twice. He lost possession a few times but his recovery pace often helped him out. What stood out to us was his willingness to make overlapping runs, even late in the game.

Milan Škriniar - 5.0: A really difficult night for the captain. His performance was completely overshadowed by the clumsy challenge that led to the penalty. It was a moment of poor judgment that gave Nice a way back into the game. Beyond that major error he was actually decent, winning most of his duels and passing well. But you just can't make a mistake like that in a European tie.

Jayden Oosterwolde - 7.0: From our perspective, he was Fenerbahçe's best defender. He was composed on the ball and made several crucial tackles and blocks. We noticed his reading of the game was excellent, cutting out danger before it developed. He even had a decent long-range shot that just missed the target. A very encouraging display.

Archie Brown - 6.5: A steady performance on the left side of the defence. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but he was defensively responsible. He won a fair share of his duels and used the ball sensibly, completing 90% of his passes. He kept things simple and effective, which was exactly what was needed after the team took the lead.

Midfielders

İsmail Yüksek - 7.5: An all-action display from the midfielder before he was substituted. He provided a brilliant assist for the second goal and was a creative force, making five key passes. However, his performance was tempered by a yellow card and a tendency to be a little reckless. He ran himself into the ground, a tireless effort that set the tone for the team.

Talisca - 7.5: He was magical in the first half. The assist for the opening goal was sublime, a perfectly weighted pass after a quick break. He was a constant threat, finding pockets of space and trying to make things happen. His influence faded a bit before he was taken off, but his early contribution was vital. A classic Talisca performance full of flair.

Marco Asensio - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet game for a player of his quality. He was tidy in possession with a 94% pass accuracy but didn't provide the creative spark we expected. He had one shot on target but otherwise struggled to impose himself on the match. A bit of a passenger, if we're being honest. We expected more from him.

Forwards

Kerem Aktürkoğlu - 9.5: The undeniable man of the match. What a performance! Two superbly taken goals inside the first 25 minutes effectively won the game for his team. His movement, energy, and clinical finishing were on a different level. He was a nightmare for the Nice defence. It was a joy to watch him play with such confidence and purpose. Deservedly the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Youssef En-Nesyri - 5.5: A frustrating night for the striker. He was isolated for long periods and struggled to get involved. He missed a big chance in the second half, heading over from close range. His work rate was there, but nothing came off for him. He only had 17 touches in 90 minutes, which tells the whole story.

Dorgeles Nene - 6.5: A busy and energetic performance without the end product. He worked hard on the flank, won a good number of his duels, and tried to take on his man. He created a great chance for En-Nesyri with a good cross but his final ball was inconsistent otherwise. A decent shift but lacked that bit of quality in the final third.

Substitutes

Edson Álvarez - 6.0: Came on to add some defensive solidity to the midfield and did his job effectively. Broke up play and kept things simple.

Sebastian Szymanski - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on. Forced a good save from the goalkeeper and added a bit of urgency to the attack.

Irfan Can Kahveci - 6.0: Provided fresh legs in midfield and helped see out the game. Had one shot on target from distance.

Fred - 5.5: His main contribution was getting a yellow card almost immediately after coming on. Looked a bit too aggressive.

Oguz Aydin - N/A: Came on too late to make any real impact on the game.

Manager

D. Tedesco - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly at the start. The team's high-energy pressing and fast counter-attacks completely overwhelmed Nice. The decision to make defensive substitutions to protect the lead was logical and ultimately successful. A well-managed victory for the home side.

Nice Player Ratings vs Fenerbahce

Here are Nice Player Ratings vs Fenerbahce

Goalkeeper

Yehvann Diouf - 6.0: It's tough to rate him. He was left completely exposed for both goals and could do little about them. He did make a couple of excellent saves in the second half to keep his team in the match. However, an error leading to a shot and some nervy moments on the ball bring his rating down. A mixed performance overall.

Defenders

Jonathan Clauss - 6.0: A frustrating evening for him. He struggled to handle Fenerbahçe's early onslaught and was part of a defence that looked all at sea. He made a few good interceptions but also lost possession cheaply. He couldn't provide his usual attacking threat down the flank. Not his best game by any means.

Juma Bah - 6.0: Looked comfortable on the ball with a 94% pass accuracy. However, he was part of a central defensive pairing that was pulled apart for the two goals. He made a few clearances but didn't command his area. He seemed to grow into the game, but the damage was already done.

Kojo Peprah Oppong - 5.5: It was a difficult night for the defender. He made an error that led to a shot and looked shaky throughout the first half. He struggled with the movement of Fenerbahçe's attackers. He was eventually substituted after picking up a knock, which capped off a poor outing.

Melvin Bard - 6.5: From our perspective, he was Nice's best defender. He was aggressive in the tackle and won most of his duels (8 out of 12). He was constantly trying to drive his team forward from left-back. He showed great fight and determination, even when the team was struggling. A commendable effort in a losing cause.

Midfielders

Tom Louchet - 6.0: A battling performance in midfield but he was largely overrun, especially in the first half. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul and lost possession too many times. He did create a couple of chances but his overall impact was limited. He worked hard but was outclassed.

Charles Vanhoutte - 5.5: He struggled to get a foothold in the game. His passing was okay, but he offered very little in terms of defensive protection or forward thrust. He was a bit anonymous for large parts of the match. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Morgan Sanson - 6.0: He tried to get on the ball and make things happen, but it was a tough night for him. He was energetic but often found himself chasing shadows as Fenerbahçe's midfield dominated the early proceedings. He was substituted in the second half as Nice looked for a different approach.

Forwards

Tiago Gouveia - 6.5: He was unlucky not to score, hitting the crossbar with a header. He looked like one of Nice's more dangerous players when he got on the ball. His night was cut short by an injury, which was a blow for his team. He showed glimpses of what he can do.

Kevin Carlos - 7.0: He took his penalty with great composure, which is never easy in a hostile environment. He was a physical presence up front and won a decent number of aerial duels. He also missed a good headed chance early on. A decent showing from the striker.

Jérémie Boga - 6.5: He was Nice's main source of dribbling ability, completing four successful take-ons. He looked threatening when running at the defence and created a couple of chances. However, his final product was often lacking. A lively but ultimately inefficient performance.

Substitutes

Sofiane Diop - 6.0: Added some energy but couldn't find the killer pass to unlock the home defence.

Ali Abdi - 6.0: Came on and was solid enough at the back without doing anything spectacular.

Mohamed-Ali Cho - 5.5: Didn't have much time to make an impact and was largely anonymous.

Antoine Mendy - N/A: A late substitute with little time to influence the proceedings.

Manager

F. Haise - 5.5: His team looked unprepared for Fenerbahçe's intense start and were punished for it. The system and personnel were all wrong in the opening 30 minutes. While they showed good character to get back into the game, the initial setup cost them dearly. He needs to take responsibility for the slow start.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Akturkoglu