Fenerbahçe Draw 1-1 with Lyon in Champions League Play-off Round

Fenerbahçe hosted French side Olympique Lyon at home in the first leg of the play-off round that determines qualification for the UEFA Champions League league phase. In the match played at Kadıköy, both teams managed to find the net once, and the game ended 1-1. The visitors took the lead in the first half, but the yellow-and-navy blues equalized at the start of the second half.

In the 40th minute, Tessmann picked up a loose ball that Fenerbahçe's defense failed to clear and set up Tolisso. Tolisso advanced down the right flank to the byline and delivered a cross, which Openda headed into the net to put the visitors ahead. Fenerbahçe went into the locker room trailing 1-0, but started the second half well: in the 47th minute, Mason Greenwood received a pass from Kerem, elegantly beat his marker, and equalized with a left-footed finish into the net.

Another notable detail of the match was the involvement of Fenerbahçe's new signings in the squad. Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes played in an official match for the first time this season after recovering from a viral infection, while Vedat Muric, who had been dealing with an injury, started in the lineup for the first time. Marco Asensio began the match on the bench and came on in the 73rd minute, while Romelu Lukaku, who was added to the squad just 24 hours before the game, made his debut for the yellow-and-navy side in the 82nd minute. Injured players Mert Günok and Çağlar Söyüncü, along with Jayden Oosterwolde, who is not on the UEFA squad list, did not feature in this match.

The second leg, which will determine the qualifying team, will be played in France on Wednesday, August 26. The team that advances from the play-off round will earn the right to compete in the Champions League league phase. Fenerbahçe fans, who filled the stands at Kadıköy, supported their team before the match with an impressive visual display and chants.