Fenerbahçe's starting XI against Sturm Graz announced: Kante and Greenwood in the lineup

The starting XI for Fenerbahçe, which will host Austrian side Sturm Graz in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, has been announced. The Yellow-Navy Blues, who reached this stage by eliminating Gornik Zabrze in the second round, are looking to gain an advantage at Kadıköy.

The match, which will begin at 21:00 at the Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, will be officiated by English referee Chris Kavanagh. It was noted that the technical staff chose to include Kante and Mason Greenwood in the starting XI.

STARTING XI ANNOUNCED

Fenerbahçe's starting XI against Sturm Graz is as follows: Mert Günok, Oosterwolde, Aké, Skriniar, Semedo, Guendouzi, Kante, Asensio, Kerem, Greenwood, and Talisca.

The Yellow-Navy Blues' bench includes Ederson, Çağlar, Mert, Brown, Yiğit Efe, İsmail, Fred, Oğuz, İrfan Can, Musaba, Cherif, and Vedat.

Sturm Graz's probable starting XI was announced as Khudyakov, Heil, Vallci, Mitchell, Soglo, Seidl, Weinhandl, Stankovic, Hödl, Wlodarczyk, and Jatta.

Fenerbahçe will play its 303rd match in European competitions. In the previous 302 matches, the Yellow-Navy Blues recorded 119 wins, 66 draws, and 117 losses. Scoring 411 goals in these matches, Fenerbahçe conceded 424 goals.

Preparing for its 45th test in the Champions League qualifiers, Fenerbahçe has recorded 16 wins, 14 draws, and 14 losses in its 44 previous qualifying matches. During this period, the Yellow-Navy Blues scored 64 goals and conceded 52.

If Fenerbahçe eliminates Sturm Graz, it will face the winner of the Sparta Prague-Olympique Lyon tie in the play-off round. The play-off matches will be played on August 18-19 and 25-26.

Performance at Kadıköy is also among the Yellow-Navy Blues' key assets. Since their loss to Dynamo Kyiv in the 2022-23 season, Fenerbahçe has lost only 5 times in the 30 European cup matches they have played at home; they won 19 of these matches and drew 6.

News Source: 12punto