Greenwood and Asensio seal Fenerbahçe's passage

Fenerbahçe took a big step towards the Champions 2026-27 league phase by thrashing Sturm Graz 2-0 in the first leg of the third qualifying round at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium. If they confirm their qualification next Tuesday, they will face the winner of the Sparta Prague vs Lyon tie, with the Czechs holding a 2-1 advantage.

The Turkish side arrived at this stage after eliminating Gornik Zabrze in the previous round. Brazilian Anderson Talisca opened the scoring in the 10th minute, adding to his goal tally in this competition. The standout moment came in the 45th minute when Mason Greenwood capitalised on a precise corner delivery from Marco Asensio to make it 2-0, firing a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box.

Fenerbahçe continues showcasing its squad with summer signings proving their worth. Nathan Aké, on loan from Manchester City, started at centre-back for the Turkish outfit. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the Greenwood-Asensio partnership is already bearing fruit in crucial moments of these knockout ties.