Fenerbahçe through to the Champions League play-off
Sturm Graz 0–1 Fenerbahçe. Your team is two rounds from the Champions League group stage (15). Talisca scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 66th minute, his fourth goal in four consecutive qualifiers (8). Lyon are next.
Lyon await in the play-off
OL beat Sparta Prague 3–0 on Tuesday, sealing the tie 4–2 on aggregate (16) (17). First leg is Tuesday, August 18 in Turkey at 21:00. Tolisso told French media: "It will not be easy, but we really want to qualify" (4). The return leg follows on August 25–26 (14).
Kartal: "It's tough, but we will overcome it"
İsmail Kartal spoke after the Sturm Graz win and kept the focus on what comes next. His message for the Lyon tie: "Zordur, üstesinden geleceğiz", it's tough, but we will overcome it (18).
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Lukaku deal close, €10m net per year
Romelu Lukaku is on the verge of joining Fenerbahçe. The 33-year-old Belgian striker has a two-year deal lined up worth €10 million net per season (2) (5). Napoli and Fenerbahçe have agreed a fee of €6 million plus bonuses (3). He chose Istanbul over a return to Anderlecht (5).
Fred to Atlético-MG, Sambacı says goodbye
Fred's move to Atlético Mineiro is nearly done. CEO Pedro Daniel said the Brazilian club has been talking to the player for a long time and called him "a fantastic gain, not just technically, but in behaviour, performance, identity" (7). The transfer depends on Fenerbahçe releasing him, his contract runs to June 2027 (7).
Meanwhile, Sambacı played his last match and bid farewell to the fans after the Sturm Graz game. He has agreed terms with Atlético Mineiro (6).
Muriqi debuts, Skriniar speaks
Vedat Muriqi made his first appearance of the season in Graz (9). After the match, Milan Skriniar spoke about teammate Matteo Guendouzi (10). No notable injury concerns from the night.
Europe: Fenerbahçe level with Galatasaray
The win over Sturm Graz means Fenerbahçe's European win tally now matches Galatasaray's (13). An 18-season wait for Champions League group stage football is two matches from ending.
Fan reactions
Supporters on Reddit are celebrating the aggregate 3–0 passage past Sturm Graz, with the focus firmly on the Lyon draw. Talisca's four-goal run in qualifiers has not gone unnoticed, fans are calling him the difference-maker in this European campaign. A thread tracking the Lyon play-off matchup is already active here.
