The Turkish Süper Lig’s Fenerbahçe will look to safe their place within the third qualifying spherical of the 2024-25 Champions League as they host Lugano on Tuesday night time.
Jose Mourinho’s facet carries a slim lead into the second leg after an exciting 4-3 win in Switzerland.
The Special One started his tenure as Fenerbahçe’s supervisor with a slim victory within the first leg final week, however it was a hard-fought contest as Lugano introduced a problem.
Edin Dzeko shone with a hat trick, placing the Turkish giants forward 4-2 within the dying minutes.
However, a 94th-minute objective by Lugano leaves the tie finely poised for the second leg.
Fenerbahçe’s Turkish Süper Lig marketing campaign received’t kick off till Aug. 17 in opposition to Göztepe, so their focus stays firmly on the Champions League, with only one match standing between them and the third qualifying spherical.
Last season, the Yellow Canaries amassed a powerful 99 factors however fell wanting the title, ending three factors behind champions Galatasaray.
They reached the quarterfinals of the Conference League, the place they have been edged out by Olympiacos on penalties.
Fenerbahçe hasn’t superior to the Champions League group stage because the 2008-09 season.
Lugano additionally competed within the Conference League final season however didn’t advance previous the group stage, ending fourth in Group D.
The Black and Whites are pursuing a historic Champions League group stage look, a milestone they’ve but to realize. They did, nonetheless, attain the Europa League group stage within the 2019-20 season.
Under the steerage of Mattia Croci-Torti, Lugano has made a robust begin to their Swiss Super League marketing campaign, profitable their first two matches in opposition to Grasshoppers and Basel to take a seat third within the desk.
Though Lugano is a three-time Swiss Super League champion, their final title got here in 1949.
Last season, they secured second place for the primary time since 2001, ending 12 factors behind champions Young Boys. They are aiming to stay among the many prime contenders this season.
In phrases of European expertise, Fenerbahçe will play their 272nd continental match.
So far, they’ve performed 271 video games, recording 108 wins, 108 losses, and 55 attracts.
They have scored 370 objectives however conceded 387.
In Champions League qualifiers alone, Fenerbahçe has performed 35 matches, profitable 13, drawing 11 and dropping 11.
They have netted 52 objectives and conceded 42 in these qualifiers.
Source: www.dailysabah.com