What happened to Pogoń Szczecin against Fenerbahçe?

Pogoń Szczecin were crushed 0-4 by Fenerbahçe in their opening pre-season friendly. The Portowcy were outclassed from the start, with the Turkish side opening the scoring inside eight minutes. It’s a stark warning ahead of the new Ekstraklasa campaign.

Cengiz Under, capped 51 times for Turkey, struck first in the 8th minute. Anthony Musaba doubled the lead 15 minutes later. After the break, 19-year-old Sidiki Cherif - signed from Angers SCO for €18 million this summer - added two more to complete his brace. The final whistle blew with Fenerbahçe dominating 4-0.

Pogoń Szczecin fielded a strong side. On the bench sat Hussein Ali, the Iraqi defender signed from Legia Warsaw, and new striker Jean-Pierre Nsame. Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, left out defender Nathan Aké but still controlled the game from start to finish.

Why this matters for Pogoń Szczecin

The heavy loss to Fenerbahçe is a major red flag ahead of the new season. After struggling to survive in Ekstraklasa last term, Pogoń Szczecin must improve fast. While friendlies don’t always reflect real strength, a 4-goal thrashing shows the Portowcy face a tough start to the PKO Ekstraklasa campaign.

The defeat also robbed Pogoń of a chance to test new signings under pressure. Players like Dimítris Keramítsis, Léo Borges and Benjamin Mendy took the field, but their efforts weren’t enough to salvage a draw.

What’s next for the Portowcy?

Pogoń Szczecin have no time to dwell. This Wednesday they face Sturm Graz - runners-up in Austria - in their final pre-season friendly. It’s the last real test before the league opener.

The clash with the Austrian side is a chance to rebuild morale and try new tactical setups. This time, the Portowcy must show they can handle pressure and avoid repeating the same mistakes seen against Fenerbahçe.

Pogoń Szczecin’s lineup vs Fenerbahçe

In goal, Valentin Cojocaru started. The defence featured Linus Wahlqvist, Dimítris Keramítsis, Léo Borges and Benjamin Mendy. In midfield, Mads Agger, Fredrik Ulvestad, Patryk Dziczek and Kamil Grosicki played key roles. Up front, Filip Čuić led the line, supported by Jean-Pierre Nsame.

Referee Stefan Ebner of Upper Austria oversaw the match with few flashpoints. The only booking went to Fenerbahçe’s Jayden Oosterwolde. Played on neutral ground in Austria, both teams used the game to fine-tune their setups ahead of the season.