Fenerbahçe one match away from Champions League
(AA photo)
Fenerbahçe stands on the precipice of ending a long Champions League exile on Aug. 26, needing a victory against Olympique Lyonnais to return to Europe’s elite competition in what club officials regard as a pivotal season.
The Istanbul club has not featured in the Champions League main stage since the 2008–2009 season, enduring nearly two decades of heartbreak in qualifying rounds. That long drought has turned Aug. 26’s playoff second leg into a watershed moment for the club, which seeks both the prestige and financial windfall of the competition.
The tie remains deadlocked following a 1-1 draw in Istanbul last week. With UEFA no longer using the away-goals rule, a victory by either side at Parc Olympique Lyonnais will secure passage, while a draw after 90 minutes will send the match into extra time.
