On August 7 at 2:30 AM, the first leg of the third round of Champions League qualifiers will see Lille host Fenerbahçe. As the only team from one of Europe’s top five leagues participating in the qualifiers, Lille is tasked with upholding Ligue 1’s honor, while José Mourinho faces his first true test as Fenerbahçe manager.
In the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season, Lille secured fourth place with 16 wins, 11 draws, and 7 losses for a total of 59 points, earning them a spot in the Champions League qualifiers. In their Champions League history, Lille has twice advanced from the group stage to reach the Round of 16, in the 2006-07 and 2021-22 seasons, marking their best performance in the competition.
In the summer transfer window, Lille brought in players such as Ormetta (promoted from Lille B), Meunier (free transfer), Mandi (free transfer), Nganga Ayer Mukha (€5 million), Eson Mbappe (free transfer), and Saraiva (€8 million). More notable than their acquisitions were their sales, including the young defender Jolo, who was sold to Manchester United for €62 million, a significant financial gain for the club.
Fenerbahçe finished second in the Turkish Super Lig last season with 31 wins, 6 draws, and 1 loss for a total of 99 points, securing their place in the Champions League qualifiers. For the new season, they appointed legendary manager José Mourinho, setting their sights on the Super Lig title.
In the second round of the Champions League qualifiers, Fenerbahçe secured their advancement by defeating Lugano over two legs with an aggregate score of 6-4. Their best performance in the Champions League came during the 2007-08 season when they reached the quarterfinals, which remains their highest achievement in the competition.
Since the 2010-11 season, Fenerbahçe has failed to advance past the Champions League qualifiers on seven consecutive occasions.
In the summer transfer window, Fenerbahçe signed players like Soyuncu (€8.5 million), Mekel (€2 million), Krunić (€3.5 million), Oğuz Aydın (€6 million), En-Nesyri (€19.5 million), and Tosun (free transfer).
For this match, Lille will be without Ignacio Milamon, Zedadka, Rafael Fernandes, who are ineligible, and Umtiti and Bentaleb, who are injured. Fenerbahçe will miss João Pedro, Sedar Avcı, Kurukalıp, Emre Mor, Luán Pereira, Akdağ, Burak Kapacak, Miguel Crespo, Kent, and Ünder, who are ineligible, and Fred, who is injured.
In their previous encounters, Lille has maintained an undefeated record against Fenerbahçe with one win and one draw. At Lille’s home ground, the two teams have met once, with Lille coming out victorious.
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