Fenerbahce
In the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Fenerbahce host Sturm Graz 5 August 2026 at 19:00 BST. The match will be played at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.
The Turkish side start the season with a new president, a new coach and a squad that have not yet gelled. The Austrians are already up to speed: the league campaign has begun, and their unbeaten run stretches back to the spring.
We will start with Sturm Graz, because they are the side who shape this match. Fabio Ingolitsch's team have not lost since the spring, finished second in Austria two points behind LASK and got past Hearts in the previous round with a 6:0 aggregate score. Across two qualifying matches, they did not concede a single goal. You do not break down that kind of defence on desire alone.
The Austrians are in match rhythm. The domestic cup, the opening league round away from home — 1:1 with WSG Tirol, before that two clean-sheet wins over the Scots. Otar Kiteishvili, last season's top scorer, stayed in Graz over the summer, although Dimitri Lavalee and Emir Karic left the defence. The key man is still there — which means the visitors will come looking for a result.
Fenerbahce are a different story. More than 80 million euros was spent in the summer: Mason Greenwood, Nathan Ake, Vedat Muriqi. It sounds strong. But Muriqi is injured, while Greenwood and Ake joined the team only recently. The thrashings of Admira (5:0) and Pogon (4:0) were friendlies and prove nothing.
There is, however, one number that does prove something. In Champions League qualifying since 2022, Fenerbahce have won only twice at home in five matches: draws with Lille (1:1) and Benfica (0:0), and a defeat to Dynamo Kyiv (1:2). The recent example is Gornik (1:0), despite overwhelming territorial dominance. Istanbul puts just as much pressure on its own team as it does on the visitors.
Put it all together: an attack that has not settled, Ismail Kartal's fourth spell and a chronic home stumble in qualifying — against a team who are up to speed and know how to manage a scoreline. Sturm Graz do not need to win the first leg; they need to avoid conceding. Ingolitsch will close off the centre and wait for set pieces. In that scenario, the draw is a price we can get behind.
Chris Kavanagh (England)
Matches – 10 (international matches, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 23;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 3.7;
Matches with a red card – 1 out of 10;
Matches with a penalty – 1 out of 10.
|
Ismail Kartal
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Fehmi Mert Günok
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jayden Quinn Oosterwolde
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Milan Škriniar
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nathan Aké
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nélson Cabral Semedo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anderson Souza Conceição
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mattéo Elias Kenzo Guendouzi Olié
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
N'Golo Kanté
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kerem Aktürkoğlu
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Marco Asensio Willemsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mason Will John Greenwood
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Ederson Santana de Moraes
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Archibald Norman Brown
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mert Müldür
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yiğit Efe Demir
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Çağlar Söyüncü
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
İrfan Can Kahveci
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
İsmail Yüksek
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anthony Tite Emmanuel Musaba
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Oğuz Aydın
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sidiki Chérif
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vedat Muriqi
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fabio Ingolitsch
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Daniil Khudyakov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Albert Vallci
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Emran Gamal Marwan Soglo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jeyland Yahir Mitchell Baltodano
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jacob Peter Hödl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jon Gorenc Stankovič
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jürgen Heil
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luca Weinhandl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Simon Seidl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Seedyahmed Tijan Jatta
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Szymon Piotr Włodarczyk
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Ammar Helac
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christoph Wiener-Pucher
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arjan Malić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luis Balbo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Paul-Friedrich Koller
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petar Petrović
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gizo Mamageishvili
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Julian Halwachs
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ryan Fosso
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Axel Flory Pierre Kayombo
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Belmin Beganović
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nelson Felix Patrick Weiper
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Gornik Zabrze
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce
Gornik Zabrze
Hearts
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Hearts
Europa League 2017-2018
Fenerbahce
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Fenerbahce
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
