In most situations, it would seem rather odd to claim that a team which is on a 12-game unbeaten streak and has triumphed in eight out of their last ten home games is performing somewhat below their usual standards. However, this peculiar assessment actually applies to Fenerbahce at present.

Considering the significant investment made in their squad and the presence of a legendary figure guiding them from the dugout, domestic success is virtually a given for Fenerbahce. Nevertheless, when it comes to their performance in European competitions, the team has fallen far short of expectations.

As one of the clubs that were anticipated to contend for a place among the top eight, Fenerbahce only narrowly secured a spot in the playoffs. They concluded the league phase in 24th place, which was the final unseeded position for the playoff stage.

Fenerbahce ended up with the same number of points as Elfsborg and Braga. But they managed to edge past these teams and claim the 24th position due to a superior goal difference. This achievement came after they played out a 2-2 draw with Midtjylland on matchday eight.

This result extended their winless streak in European competitions to three matches. Prior to this, they had only managed to earn a single point from their home fixtures against Athletic Bilbao and Lyon. On a more positive note, since their visit to Denmark, Fenerbahce has shown signs of improvement in their domestic league form.

Three straight wins over Rizespor, Erzurumspor and Alanyaspor, scoring 10 goals in the process, have kept them in the title race, and saw them advance in the Turkish Cup, but this clash with Anderlecht will be significantly more important in the course of their season.

Having lost four of their last six first legs in European ties, Mourinho will hope to tap into his experience in Europe to revert that run and put them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg.

These two sides met here in this competition back in 2018, with Fener winning 2-0, and that means Anderlecht are still waiting for their first goal away to their upcoming hosts ahead of their fourth visit.

The better form on the continent lies with the Belgians though, who finished four points and 14 places above Fener in the league phase, largely thanks to a sensational start that saw them take 14 points from their first six games.

David Hubert's side did end up losing their last two, away to Viktoria Plzen (0-2) and at home to Hoffenheim (3-4), meaning they must now go through the playoffs to reach the last 16, but they should take great heart from their performances on the road during the league phase.

The defeat in Czechia was the only one they suffered, taking seven points from their other three trips across the continent, and Hubert's men come into this clash on the back of a good week, both in the cup and in the league.

Anderlecht reached the Belgian Cup final last midweek, beating Antwerp 3-2 on aggregate, and they defeated the same opponents 2-0 in the league a few days later, but they are only playing for the European places now, sitting 15 points behind leaders Genk.

Fenerbahce were busy in the January window, and added some genuine quality in the form of Anderson Talisca and Milan Skriniar, who have both been added to their Europa League squad alongside Juventus loanee Filip Kostic.

Only being able to make three alterations to your Europa League squad means there is no place for other January recruits though, such as Diego Carlos and Ognjen Mimovic, as well as the in-form Oguz Aydin.

Sofyan Amrabat and Bright Osayi-Samuel are back from European bans, while Youssef En-Nesyri will also return after missing the weekend win over Alanyaspor with suspension, and he is one shy of equalling the club record number of goals in one European season (five), and he will fancy his chances of reaching that mark here, considering he has scored 14 in his last 11 games.

Mourinho is without a number of defensive options heading into this one, including goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who is sidelined alongside Rodrigo Becao, Jayden Oosterwolde, Alexander Djiku, Mert Muldur and Caglar Soyuncu, after the latter was forced off inside 10 minutes at the weekend.

Anderlecht are also without one of their key defenders, as Jan Vertonghen remains sidelined with a long-term ankle injury, but Moussa N'Diaye will return after being suspended for the clash with Antwerp at the weekend.

Sam Edozie has been absent since mid-January with a muscular problem, but Kasper Dolberg made his first start in a month and netted both of the goals in that success against Antwerp.

Dolberg's saw two of his Danish compatriots leave in January though, as Anders Dreyer and Zanka moved to MLS, but the club have added regular starters Adryelson, Cesar Huerta and Lucas Hey to their Europa League squad.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Egribayrat; Osayi-Samuel, Skriniar, Amrabat, Kostic; Fred, Szymanski; Talisca, Tadic, Saint-Maximin; En-Nesyri

Anderlecht possible starting lineup:

Coosemans; Sardella, Hey, Adryelson, Augustinsson; Verschaeren, Dendoncker, Stroeykens; Hazard, Dolberg, Huerta