Lyon aim to make statement in first leg at Fenerbahçe | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais face Fenerbahçe in a Champions League play-off first leg in Istanbul tonight, aiming to make their mark early. According to Le Progres, they want to land a first blow in Türkiye.

The tie began in a deafening atmosphere. German referee Jablonski is in charge, with 24C conditions and an excellent surface.

Fenerbahçe’s probable XI have 561 European games between them, just over 50 each, led by Ederson on 96, Skriniar 70 and Guendouzi 62. Former Paris player Asencio, on 89, starts on the bench.

OL’s group total 358 European outings, averaging 32, with Tolisso on 79, Maitland-Niles 69 and Openda 51.

Fenerbahçe also include France internationals Matteo Guendouzi and N’Golo Kante, and signed Mason Greenwood from OM after 37 goals and 12 assists in 66 Ligue 1 matches.

In the previous round, OL lost 2-1 in Prague with a cautious, unfamiliar set-up, then won 3-0 in Décines. This is their sixth play-off or qualifier, with exits to NK Maribor in 1999 and Real Sociedad in 2013, and progress against Inter Bratislava in 2000, Anderlecht in 2009 and Rubin Kazan in 2011.

The GFB ultra group trailed an unprecedented pre-match display via the Turkish Ultras page on X, plus another plan intended to turn the stadium into a real hell. Lyon have never lost here, winning 1-0 in 2001 and 3-1 in 2004, then drawing 0-0 in January 2025. The return is on Wednesday 26 at 21:00 in Décines.

Source: Le Progres

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