Fenerbahçe Restores Asensio for Rizespor Clash

Fenerbahçe will face Çaykur Rizespor on Saturday, October 10, with Marco Asensio set to return after an injury absence. The Turkish club aims to continue momentum from its 8-0 win over Eyüpspor at Çaykur Didi Stadium. According to beIN Sports, Asensio has not played an official match since August after an injury following the August 22 match against Konyaspor.

He returned to the squad for the Eyüpspor game but stayed on the bench. The international break allowed Asensio to complete recovery and regain fitness. Turkish outlets Fotomaç and Sözcü reported that his training performances impressed the coaching staff ahead of the Rizespor match.

According to TV100, head coach İsmail Kartal plans to use the 30-year-old Spaniard as an attacking midfielder. The role is intended to support chance creation and connect with Fenerbahçe's forwards.

BeIN Sports reported that Asensio's return could provide more attacking options for players including Mason Greenwood, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Vedat Muriqi, and Romelu Lukaku. Fenerbahçe had previously struggled with attacking efficiency before the Eyüpspor victory. Turkish Football reported that Fenerbahçe finalized a 4-2-3-1 formation for the away match. The lineup places Ederson in goal, with Nélson Semedo, Milan Škriniar, Nathan Aké, and Archie Brown in defense.

The midfield setup includes N’Golo Kanté and Mattéo Guendouzi as the double pivot, according to Turkish Football. İrfan Can Kahveci is assigned central playmaking duties, with Greenwood and Aktürkoğlu on the flanks. Vedat Muriqi will lead the attack as the lone striker in the confirmed formation reported by Turkish Football. The club's previous match saw Muriqi score four goals in the 8-0 victory over Eyüpspor.

According to SportsGambler, Fenerbahçe's recent league record includes three wins in its last five matches, while Rizespor had lost its previous two home games. The source also noted nine Fenerbahçe wins in the last 10 meetings between the teams. Asensio has a notable history against Rizespor, with beIN Sports reporting that he scored twice and provided an assist during Fenerbahçe's 5-2 victory at the same opponent's venue last season.