This game is expected to test the security of Istanbul as this two Turkish heavyweights clash in the second leg of the Turkish Cup semifinal. The first leg ended in a drama-packed 2-2 draw at the Vodafone Park. Premier League flops Alvaro Negredo and Roberto Soldado scored the first goal for their respective teams after the latter cancelled the former’s strike after just three minutes of them taking the lead. Fenerbahce were reduced to ten men a minute before the break as Alper Potuk was given his marching orders for a second yellow card, they would eventually end the game with 9 men. Surprisingly with ten men on the field, Fenerbahce took the lead but Anderson Talisca came up with the equalizer for the host in that game and Fenerbahce would be feeling that they can complete the job here on their home turf. These two sides come into this game on form as they have both won their last three successive games, however, Istanbul derbies have shown in the past that form of the two sides really does not count here. Fenerbahce have lost only two games at home all season and that should tell Besiktas that they have a mountain to climb in terms of eliminating their host in this game.

Schalke head into this game looking to get into their first final since 2011. They couldn’t have come into this game from a better position than being second on the Bundesliga table and from the back of an impressive 2-0 win over local rivals, Borussia Dortmund. They now look set to compete in next season’s Champions League, but winning the DFB Pokal would be a fitting end to an impressive season for them. Bastian Oczipka and Max Meyer were rested for Schalke game against Dortmund at the weekend, but they are both expected to start in this game. The last week has been one of its kind for Frankfurt. They were unhappy with Bayern Munich’s announcement that their manager, Niko Kovac would be their next manager at the end of this season. That announcement was followed by a 4-1 loss to their fellow top-four competitor Bayer Leverkusen. The good news from that game was that Mexican winger Marco Fabian marked his return from a long time out with a goal in that game, he should keep his place in the line up for this match. top scorer, Luka Jovic should also be recalled here.

Bayer Leverkusen are looking to reach their first final since 2009 and their fans would be hoping that they can carry their fine league form and eliminate the Bundesliga champions in this game. They are almost certain to play Champions League football next season with a four-point cushion on the fourth position. However, they are coming up against a strong Bayern Munich side in this game as the Bavarians chase yet another treble under Jupp Heyckes. Lucas Alario is available despite being suspended for Bundesliga games and he should partner the red-hot Kevin Volland here. Bayern Munich rested most of their biggest stars in their weekend 5-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Sandro Wagner helped himself to a brace but he should give way for Robert Lewandoski here.  James Rodriguez scored a stunner of a free kick the last time these teams met and should be in the starting line up here. However, Arturo Vidal pulled up in training after suffering the reoccurrence of a knee injury and he would not be involved in this game. These two sides last met in the  DFB Pokal in 2015 with Bayern Munich winning the quarterfinal game on penalties as the sides could not be separated after 120 minutes.

Just over a month ago, West Ham were on a brink of collapse following a 3-0 home loss to Burnley and the ensuing chaos with fans protesting against the club’s board. However, credit to the players as they have turned things around a little with 4 points from their last two games the last of which was a creditable 1-1 draw at Chelsea. They are now 14th on the league table, 6 points from safety and with a high degree of confidence as they approach this game which should see them get all three points against a Stoke City side that looks almost certain to finish inside the relegation zone. Despite a change in management, Stoke City have been woeful this season and their recent form does not suggest they would survive relegation. Their 2-1 loss to Tottenham in their last league game made it 9 games without a win for Paul Lambert’s men. The fact that the last four have been defeat shows how much of fight the Potters lack as the season gradually draws to a close. Stoke City have just one away win all season and they have not won an away game since their win over Watford in October last year, they now have seven losses from their last 11 on the road making it more difficult to see them beat a West Ham team that has lost just once in their last six home games.

Tottenham would feel they are lucky to be playing Manchester City at the moment as the Premier League champions-elect struggle to keep their season together, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have a good chance of delaying City’s title win and consolidate on their own top four ambitions. They beat Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium the last time out to make it four consecutive wins for them. They are now unbeaten in their last 14 domestic games, with 11 of those matches ending in wins for them. Just a few months ago, it seemed as though Manchester City would be heading for an unprecedented quadruple, however, a shock loss to Wigan in the FA Cup reduced that to treble, they have now been eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool and would end this season with only two trophies. They lost their last league game to Manchester United 3-2 despite taking a 2-0 lead to the break, they would now look to finally win the Premier League at Wembley in this match, but that would be easier said than done. They have now lost three straight matches for the first time since 2016, and a loss here would mean they have lost 4 straight games for the first time since 2006. These two sides have won three, lost three and drawn one of their last 7 meetings together.