Ismail Kartal Weighs Selection Calls Ahead of Fenerbahçe Aston Villa Test

Ismail Kartal weighs three crucial selection calls ahead of Fenerbahçe’s UEFA Champions League test at Aston Villa on Wednesday, finalising his tactical blueprint while the squad trains in Birmingham.

Defensive Foundations Set

While Kartal has locked down his defensive structure and right flank, the back four of Nélson Semedo, Milan Škriniar, Nathan Aké and Archie Brown appears settled. Ederson is expected to start in goal, and the holding‑midfield anchor of Mattéo Guendouzi alongside N’Golo Kanté is confirmed.

Midfield Choices Under Review

In central areas, Kartal contemplates a shift: Marco Asensio, recently back from injury, may be kept on the bench to avoid early physical burnout. Instead, he could introduce İsmail Yüksek alongside Kanté and Guendouzi to form a high‑volume pressing trio.

Left‑Wing Competition

On the left wing, Oğuz Aydın is pushing Kerem Aktürkoğlu for a starting spot. Aydın has previously been deployed in away European fixtures to double up defensive duties with Archie Brown, a setup that yielded strong defensive discipline.

Striker Dilemma

Up front, Kartal faces a choice between Vedat Muriqi and Romelu Lukaku. Muriqi offers consistent aerial hold‑up play, while Lukaku boasts an extraordinary record against Aston Villa – nine goals in eleven appearances – making him an attractive option if cleared to start.

Final Preparations

Fenerbahçe will complete their final training session at Villa Park, and Kartal’s decisions in these three key areas will dictate whether the Yellow Canaries adopt an aggressive counter‑attacking stance or a battle of attrition in the Midlands.