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Fenerbahce will look to build on their strong European home record when they host French side Olympique Lyon in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round, with the Istanbul club having lost only five of their last 31 European matches in Kadikoy.
The match at Chobani Stadium will kick off at 10 p.m. Turkish local time, with German referee Sven Jablonski taking charge alongside assistants Eduard Beitinger and Eric Muller.
Fenerbahce reached the play-off round after overcoming Gornik Zabrze in the second qualifying round before seeing off Sturm Graz. They beat the Austrian side 2-0 at home and followed that up with a 1-0 away victory.
Lyon, meanwhile, entered qualifying in the third round against Sparta Prague. After losing the first leg 2-1 in Czechia, the French side turned the tie around with a 3-0 home victory to set up the meeting with Fenerbahce.
Fenerbahce has put together an impressive run at home in European competition in recent seasons, losing only five of their 31 matches in Kadikoy since their defeat to Dynamo Kyiv in the second qualifying round of the 2022-23 Champions League.
During that stretch, Fenerbahce picked up 20 victories and six draws, beating teams including Sevilla, Olympiakos, Feyenoord, Nice, Stuttgart, Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz.
They also held Manchester United, Benfica and Lyon to draws during the same period, while their five defeats came against Union Saint-Gilloise, Athletic Bilbao, Rangers, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
The broader record also underlines Fenerbahce's experience at home in continental competition. Since drawing 1-1 with Hungarian side Csepel in their first European home match on Sept. 13, 1959, the Istanbul club have played 151 home fixtures in European competitions, winning 78, drawing 33 and losing 40.
Across those matches, Fenerbahce have scored 219 goals while conceding 144.
Head coach Ismail Kartal also carries a recent European run into the Lyon tie, having previously guided Fenerbahce to the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals in the 2023-24 season.
Fenerbahce played 16 European matches during that campaign, winning 12 and losing four. Their home record was particularly strong, with seven victories from eight matches.
Their only home defeat came against Union Saint-Gilloise, when they lost 1-0 after having won the away leg 3-0. Fenerbahce eventually went out to Olympiakos in the quarterfinals following a penalty shootout.
Anderson Talisca is expected to be one of Kartal's main attacking options after making a prolific start to the season.
The Brazilian has scored in all four of Fenerbahce's Champions League qualifying matches and also found the net against Genclerbirligi in the opening week of the Super Lig, taking his tally to five goals in five competitive appearances.
Fenerbahce will, however, be without Jayden Oosterwolde, who suffered an injury during the first leg against Sturm Graz and was subsequently removed from the UEFA squad.
Goalkeeper Mert Gunok is also unavailable through injury, while Ederson, who missed the league match against Genclerbirligi because of suspension, is set to return to the starting lineup against Lyon.
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