José Mourinho and Fenerbahce were left on Wednesday with a difficult last test in the search to return to the Champions League, which will certainly look in the polar circle next month.
Fenerbahce pulled 0-0 against Benfica at home in the first stage of their qualifying play-off, even though the Portuguese team had sent a player in the 71st minute.
In northern Norway, Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale rise in European football continued with a 5-0 routing Sturm Graz in their Playoff first stage.
Celtic failed to take advantage of a 0-0 draw with Kairat Almaty, who is organizing the four time zones from Scotland in Kazakhstan next Tuesday.
Basel captain Xerdan Shaqiri scored early with a penalty, but the Swiss champion was held at home 1-1 by Copenhagen.
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Seven play-offs will be decided with return games on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, with the winners completing the 36-team Champions League-Line-Up. The matches in second place include Non-announced Pafo’s from Cyprus who has a 2-1 lead against Red Star Belgrade at home.
The Champions League Draw ceremony to discover the eight opponents of each team in the Single-stand competition format will be held in Monaco on 28 August.
Fenerbahce did not play for 17 years in the most important Champions League, which Mourinho won twice: with Inter Milan in 2010 and Porto in 2004.
The Mourinho team dominated the last 20 minutes of play in Istanbul after Benfica was sent to Florentino because he received a second yellow card. A video review confirmed an offside call after Fenerbahce Youssef en-Nesyri thought he had scored in the 81st.
Published on August 21, 2025
