Fenerbahçe's bid to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in 18 years resumes Wednesday when the Turkish giants host Austria's Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, looking to build a home advantage before next week's decisive return leg.
After edging Polish side Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round, Fenerbahçe are now two ties away from ending one of the club's longest European absences.
Sturm Graz arrive in Istanbul full of confidence after cruising past Scottish club Hearts 6-0 over two legs.
For Fenerbahçe, returning to Europe's biggest club competition has become an annual objective that has repeatedly fallen short.
The Istanbul club have not appeared in the Champions League proper since the 2008-09 season, while their wait for another Turkish Super Lig title stretches back to 2013-14 after finishing runners-up for a fifth straight campaign last season, four times behind fierce rival Galatasaray.
