Fenerbahçe's heavily rotated XI still reads like a who's who of top‑level talent — Škriniar, Aké, Kanté, Asensio, Greenwood and Talisca all start — giving them an enormous quality edge over a Sturm Graz side also missing five regulars. The Austrians have two clean sheets in…
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Sign inFenerbahçe continue their quest for a place in the UEFA Champions League league phase when they host Austrian champions Sturm Graz on August 5, 2026, in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie. The match is scheduled for an 18:00 kick-off at the home of the Turkish giants, the Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in İstanbul.
The Yellow Canaries enter the tie with momentum after a hard-fought victory in the previous round. Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca was the undisputed hero across the two legs against Polish side Gornik Zabrze, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 home win before converting a decisive first-half penalty in the return fixture. Although the Polish side levelled the second leg at 1-1 through Michal Sacek's stoppage-time strike, Talisca's 12th-minute spot-kick—awarded after captain Milan Skriniar was fouled—proved enough to seal aggregate progression. José Mourinho's side demonstrated defensive discipline across 180 minutes, a trait that will be tested against a free-scoring Sturm Graz outfit.
Sturm Graz arrive in İstanbul having looked formidable in the second qualifying round, dismantling Scottish side Hearts 6-0 on aggregate. A 4-0 first-leg victory was followed by a professional 2-0 win at Tynecastle Park, with the Austrian champions cruising through the tie without ever looking troubled. That result extended an impressive run of form in all competitions, with the side winning consecutive matches while showing clinical finishing and defensive solidity. The only recent blemish highlighted in the source material was a heavy 5-0 loss to Bodø/Glimt in last season's Champions League play-off round, a reminder of the ruthlessness required at this stage of the competition. Manager Christian Ilzer has built a side that combines physical intensity with technical quality in midfield, and they will pose Fenerbahçe's sternest test yet this summer.
Sturm Graz are set to travel without midfielder Amady Camara, who continues to recover from a thigh strain, while Jacob Hödl remains a doubt after sustaining an injury in the first leg against Hearts. Ryan Fosso, who replaced Hödl and scored in a friendly win, could be handed a starting berth should Ilzer opt for changes. Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, will look to the experience of summer signing Milan Skriniar to organise the backline against an Austrian attack that has shown it can punish any defensive lapses. The contest between Skriniar and Sturm Graz's forward line—led by the physical presence of Seedy Jatta and supported by the creative runs of William Bøving—could define the tie before the second leg in Austria.
The return fixture is scheduled for August 11 at the Merkur Arena in Graz, with the winner of this tie advancing to the Champions League play-off round—one step from the lucrative league phase. The loser will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round, where a meeting with either St Gallen or Benfica awaits, ensuring European football continues for both sides regardless of the outcome.
| # | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 |  Fenerbahçe | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Fenerbahçe
DEF · 94' · 1 key pass
MID · 94'
34
Fenerbahçe 1W · 1D · Sturm Graz 0W
MID · 69' · 1 goal · 1 key pass · 2 shots (2 on target)
MID · 69' · 1 assist · 4 key passes
MID · 94'
Sturm Graz
GK · 94'
MID · 30' · 1 key pass
MID · 94' · 1 key pass
DEF · 94'
FWD · 30' · 1 shot
15
37
27
6
91
10
9
94
11Fenerbahçe
Coach: Ismail Kartal
Sturm Graz
Coach: Fabio Ingolitsch
