Fenerbahçe SK will host Olympique Lyonnais at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium tonight in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie. According to the lineup reported by Made in Foot, manager İsmail Kartal has selected a starting eleven featuring Ederson in goal, with a defense of Semedo, Skriniar, Aké, and Brown. Guendouzi and Kanté anchor the midfield, supporting an attacking line of Greenwood, Talisca, and Aktürkoğlu behind striker Muriqi.
Which players are in the starting lineup?
İsmail Kartal has opted for an experienced side for the crucial playoff match. Goalkeeper Ederson is protected by a central defensive pairing of captain Skriniar and Aké. The full-back roles go to Nelson Semedo and Jayden Brown. In the heart of midfield, Matteo Guendouzi and N'Golo Kanté have been chosen. The attack will see Mason Greenwood, Anderson Talisca, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu supporting center-forward Vedat Muriqi. This selection comes from the current player pool visible on our squad page.
What is Olympique Lyonnais's lineup?
The visiting side, Olympique Lyonnais, will line up in a 3-4-3 formation under manager Paulo Fonseca. Goalkeeper Greif is shielded by a back three of Maitland-Niles, Kluivert, and Niakhaté. The wing-back roles are filled by Abner and Tolisso, with Tessmann and Morton in central midfield. The attacking trio consists of Nuamah, Openda, and Mal. Fofana. Lyon's squad, much like Fenerbahçe SK's, takes to the pitch with high motivation to reach the Champions League group stage.
Why is this match so important?
This fixture carries significant weight for direct qualification to the Champions League group stage. The first leg of the two-legged playoff is played with home advantage. Fenerbahçe SK enters the match in strong form based on their recent Süper Lig performances, a trend supported by data on our stats page. The team has been notable for its goal-scoring since the start of the domestic season. The second leg will be played next week at Lyon's Groupama Stadium.
What happens after the match?
The result of the first leg will determine the psychological edge ahead of the return fixture. İsmail Kartal's players aim to secure a favorable result to take to France. Achieving this would substantially increase their chances of progressing to the Champions League groups. The team's upcoming schedule can be followed on our fixtures page. Fenerbahçe SK will continue its campaign on two fronts, fighting for success both in Europe and domestically.
