They often say that football is just a condensed representation of life. The passion, hard work, creativity, finances, ambition, and elegance are just some aspects of life that have also shaped the beautiful game. Some football matches feel like a war of the worlds – like big derbies or finals involving nations from different continents. And when you dwell into wars and violence, you can’t help but introduce tradition and history into the mix. Should you decide to watch football through a lens smeared with history, then tonight’s clash between Fenerbahce and Austria Vienna has a special feel to it. These clubs come from Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinopole) and Vienna, two cities that were centres of two vast empires: the Ottoman Empire and the Austro Hungarian Empire.Now, although the former officially dissolved in 1922, it gave birth to the country of Turkey, the nation that spreads on two continents, Asia and Europe. The Austrians, meanwhile, live a peaceful life right in the middle of Europe, with football one of the few things that gets Vienna excited.##NAJAVA_MECA_6588436##So, let’s imagine tonight’s Europa League play-off match between Fenerbahce Istanbul and Austria Vienna is a clash of empires, shall we? Fenerbahce won the first leg away 2-0 last week, with former Bournemouth striker Joshua King scoring the opener and Turkish international Serdar Dursun adding the late second to ensure a two-goal cushion ahead of tonight’s second leg at Fenerbahce’s Surku Saracoglu Stadium.However, the first match was marred by ugly scenes in the streets in Vienna. We don’t know if they were trying to revive their empires, but ultras of the two clubs rushed the streets and fought to prove who is the strongest. Mindless violence that was used to build empires endures even when the empires have been consigned to history books.Welcome to Vienna. Street-Fight between #Fenerbahce and Austria Vienna Fans. Very sad scenes, something like that has no place in football. Make love and not war. 🇦🇹🤝🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/u9ztoxgIsu— Don Mitchell (@Don7Mitchell) August 19, 2022 The Istanbul club will try to make the news outside Turkey because of their good results and not because of their ill-fated reunion with their childhood fan Mesut Ozil. But it won’t be easy after their defender Kim Min-jae departed to join Napoli for around $18 million. Kim joined Fenerbahce in August last year from Beijing Guoan after two years at the Chinese club. The 25-year-old established himself as a star player at Fenerbahce, who finished last season as runners-up in the Super Lig.The atmosphere will be immense tonight as it usually is when Turkish clubs play at home.The Austrians will also bring their young Liverpool defender Billy Koumetio on the trip. Jurgen Klopp praised the young Frenchman of Cameroonian descent as he made the transition from the youth academy to senior football. He’s now gaining experience in Austria – and playing at such a hot venue is the experience any top player should have. We’ll keep an eye on the 19-year-old former Lyon trainee.Billy Koumetio starts to find feet in Austria after a tricky start. After a difficult debut against Salzburg, Koumetio played for Wien Young Violets, the 2nd team.Since trusted to start huge European tie against Fenerbahce before becoming league starter. Role in yesterdays win: pic.twitter.com/cpjoGb4fw0— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) August 23, 2022 The purples from Vienna finished fourth in their national championship last season in the league where Red Bull Salzburg is virtually unbeatable. It’s funny what happens when empires collapse – not even their football teams can remain in power.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEPlay-off, second leg Thursday19.00: (3.60) Zalgiris (3.25) Ludogorets (2.15) /first leg 0-1/19.00: (2.00) AEK Larnaca (3.40) Dnipro-1 (3.90) /2-1/19.30: (1.55) Silkeborg (4.00) Helsinki (6.25) /0-1/20.00: (2.80) Sivasspor (3.20) Malmo (2.60) /1-3/20.00: (1.45) Fenerbahce (4.40) Austria Vienna (7.50) 2-0/20.00: (4.60) Omonia (3.60) Gent (1.80) /2-0/20.00: (1.55) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.80) Pyunik (7.00) /0-0/22.00: (3.70) Shamrock (3.40) Ferencvaros (2.05) /0-4/22.00: (2.60) Hearts (3.25) Zurich (2.75) /1-2/22.00: (1.50) Olympiakos (4.00) Apollon Lim. (7.25) 1-1/***odds are subject to change
