Manchester United’s box office reunion with Jose Mourinho lived up to the billing, with their former manager sent off as his Fenerbahce side denied Erik ten Hag a first Europa League win of the season.
The Red Devils have made a stumbling start to the new-look competition, with a shock home draw with Twente followed by a stoppage-time goal saving them from defeat in Porto.
Christian Eriksen temporarily silenced Fenerbahce’s febrile support but old foe Youssef En-Nesyri secured a 1-1 draw against a United side that have now won just one of their last 11 European games.
But this was the Mourinho show, with his touchline dramatics straying over the mark in the view of referee Clement Turpin as the hosts sought a spot-kick.
The Portuguese, who coached United between mid-2016 and late 2018, was sent to stands for his protests after Bright Osayi-Samuel was denied a penalty following a challenge by Manuel Ugarte.
Mourinho watched from behind railings as his side held out for a point as United blew a lead on a fourth straight European trip.
It was a frustrating end to a night of unrelenting hostility in Istanbul, where full-back Noussair Mazraoui was surprisingly deployed in the number 10 role by Ten Hag.
Fred looked up for it against his former club and was involved in a move that saw Osayi-Samuel slam into the side netting rather than cross from a dangerous position.
United had looked a little disjointed but reacted by scoring a well-worked goal in the 15th minute.
Ugarte’s tackle on Fred started a sweeping move that ended with Mazraoui meeting Alejandro Garnacho’s cutback with a cushioned first-time pass to Joshua Zirkzee, who teed up Eriksen to slam home.
The midfielder’s 18-yard strike flew into the top left corner and seven minutes later he nearly helped United score a second.
Eriksen ran and passed wide to Marcus Rashford on the right, with the forward driving run into the box before brilliantly cutting away from danger and whistling a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
It was a let-off that Fenerbahce were determined to capitalise on, leading to two heroic moments that sparked defensive celebrations before the break.
Firstly Andre Onana could only push Sebastian Szymanski’s cross into that path of Fener skipper Dusan Tadic, who was set to slot home until Ugarte’s brilliant block.
United’s goalkeeper was soon himself the subject of backslapping thanks to a sensational 37th-minute double save.
Onana magnificently stopped a low header from En-Nesyri, who looked in as much disbelief as Mourinho when he saw a close-range header from the ball back into the box tipped over.
Fenerbahce regrouped at the break and shook the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to its foundations within four minutes of the restart.
Diogo Dalot allowed Allan Saint-Maximin too much space, with the ex-Newcastle winger crossing from the left as En-Nesyri – who scored two as Sevilla knocked United of the 2022-23 Europa League quarter-finals – beat Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez to head past Onana.
The goalscorer saw a dragged shot saved, before Ten Hag made a double alteration and tempers frayed.
Osayi-Samuel went down in the box after a challenge by Ugarte and all inside the ground expected a penalty, only for referee Clement Turpin – and the VAR – to reject away ear-popping appeals.
Amid the maelstrom and confusion, Mourinho was shown a red card for his protestations and moved to a spot in the stands behind railings. Another member of staff also appeared to be sent off.
United attempted to go back ahead and, after some half-chances, Dominik Livakovic pushed over a Mazraoui drive from 20 yards, with Matthijs de Ligt threatening from the corners that followed.
Garnacho greedily lashed over and later saw a shot held, with Rasmus Hojlund stopped before recently introduced substitute Antony left on a stretcher.
Fenerbahce broke up the play as the clock wound down, grinding out a hard-earned point.
