A first difficulty for Romelu Lukaku at Fenerbahçe

A difficult debut for Romelu Lukaku at Fenerbahçe: in his first start in the eleven, the Belgian striker only attempted one shot in 63 minutes, despite coach Ismail Kartal's decision to start him on Monday night in Gaziantep.

Context of Ismail Kartal's decision

Four days after the draw in the Champions League against AS Roma (1-1), the result led to a resignation request, refused by the president, and prompted Ismail Kartal to start Romelu Lukaku for the first time on Monday night in Gaziantep.

Match statistics and match progression

Positioned alone as the lone striker in the 4-2-3-1, the Red Devil quickly suffered from the lack of creativity of midfielders Kanté, Guendouzi and Yüksek. The presence of two, or even three, defenders behind him forced him to play as a pivot, limiting his actions to a few lay‑offs or deflections.

The Belgian's tally shows two created chances, 23 touches, ten successful passes out of fourteen, five ball losses, a single shot and no reception of the ball in a finishing position.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw, depriving Fenerbahçe of two points and widening the gap to six points behind Galatasaray in the Süper Lig. Under pressure, Ismail Kartal said: “But there is no longer any problem and I continue my work,” justifying his resignation request after the supporters' anger and a water bottle thrown from the stands.

Sports Football Article for subscribers only. Simon Hamoir Foreign Football Specialist Published on 14-09-2026 at 21:59 Updated on 14-09-2026 at 22:00. Share Follow La Libre. La Libre Mission. Fener.