Fenerbahçe in the final stretch to end 17-year Champions League drought

Fenerbahçe is heading into a critical matchup in the UEFA Champions League play-off round. The Yellow-Navies will host Olympique Lyonnais tomorrow in the first leg, looking to gain an advantage in their quest to qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

For Fenerbahçe, under the management of İsmail Kartal, to reach the Champions League league phase, they must eliminate the French side over two legs. The return leg of the tie will be played on August 26 in the French city of Lyon.

Fenerbahçe last competed in the Champions League group stage during the 2008-09 season. If the Istanbul side clears the play-off hurdle this season, they will end a 17-season drought.

NOTABLE DETAILS IN EUROPEAN RECORD

The Yellow-Navies first participated in the Champions League in the 1996-97 season. Fenerbahçe subsequently appeared in the group stage in the 2001-02, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, and 2008-09 seasons.

Having appeared in the competition 6 times to date, Fenerbahçe has recorded 11 wins, 6 draws, and 23 losses in 40 matches. The club's greatest success in the Champions League was reaching the quarter-finals in the 2007-08 season under the management of Arthur Zico. That season, Fenerbahçe was eliminated by Chelsea, missing out on the semi-finals.

In recent years, Fenerbahçe has often fallen short of its Champions League goal in the qualifying rounds. The Yellow-Navy team has been eliminated from the competition in various periods by opponents such as Feyenoord, Dynamo Kyiv, Young Boys, Spartak Moscow, Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Monaco, Benfica, and Lille.

Last season, under the management of Jose Mourinho, Fenerbahçe passed Feyenoord in the 3rd qualifying round but could not overcome the Benfica hurdle in the play-off round. After a goalless draw in Kadıköy and a 1-0 loss away, the Yellow-Navies were unable to capitalize on the opportunity to reach the league phase.

Fenerbahçe was also unable to participate in the Champions League for two seasons due to UEFA decisions. Despite finishing the Süper Lig as champions in the 2010-11 season, the Yellow-Navies could not go to Europe due to the "match-fixing investigation," and they also remained away from the competition following a "2-year ban from European cups" received after the 2013-14 season.

News Source: 12punto