Fenerbahçe 2026-27 UEFA Champions League Matches

Fenerbahçe 2026-27 UEFA Champions League Matches encompass all the matches played and to be played by Fenerbahçe Football Team in the league phase of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League. The club will face Italy’s representative AS Roma in the first week of the tournament.

^{Fenerbahçe - Roma infographic (AA)}

Fenerbahçe will host Italy’s AS Roma in their first match of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The match will kick off at 19:45 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, Chobani Stadium in Istanbul. The game will be broadcast live on TRT 1. It will be officiated by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano, with his assistants Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso, both also from Spain. With this match, Fenerbahçe has returned to the main stage of the UEFA Champions League after an 18-year absence.

Fenerbahçe entered the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League competition from the Second Qualifying Round. The matches and results they achieved on their way to the league phase are as follows:

• Second Qualifying Round: Fenerbahçe faced Poland’s Gornik Zabrze, winning the first leg at home 1-0 and drawing 1-1 in the away return leg to advance to the next round.
• Third Qualifying Round: The yellow-blacks defeated Austrian side Sturm Graz 2-0 at home and 1-0 away to qualify for the Play-off round.
• Play-off Round: In the first leg against France’s Olympique Lyon, played in Istanbul, the match ended 1-1. Fenerbahçe won the away return leg 2-1 to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League league phase.

The match against Roma will be Fenerbahçe’s 307th match in European cup competitions. The overall record of the club’s previous 306 European matches is as follows:

• Total Matches: 306
• Wins: 122
• Draws: 67
• Losses: 117
• Goals Scored: 417
• Goals Conceded: 426

The Roma match will be Fenerbahçe’s 41st in the Champions League group stage. The statistical record of their previous 40 matches is as follows:

• Total Matches: 40
• Wins: 11
• Draws: 6
• Losses: 23
• Goals Scored: 42
• Goals Conceded: 70

Fenerbahçe has participated six times in the tournament’s former group format since the 1996-1997 season. Their most successful campaign came in the 2007-2008 season under head coach Arthur Zico, when they reached the quarter-finals. In that season, England’s representative Chelsea, who eliminated Fenerbahçe, went on to reach the semi-finals.

Fenerbahçe has previously played 15 official matches against Italian teams in European competitions. The Roma match will be their 16th encounter with Italian clubs. The record of the previous 15 matches (nine in the UEFA Europa League and six in the UEFA Champions League) is as follows:

• Wins: 4
• Draws: 1
• Losses: 10
• Goals Scored: 11
• Goals Conceded: 25

Fenerbahçe’s first match against an Italian team was against Fiorentina in 1984. Over the years, they have faced eight different Italian clubs: Fiorentina, Atalanta, Juventus, Parma, Milan, Palermo, Inter and Lazio. Their first victory against an Italian side came in 1998 with a 1-0 win over Parma.

Fenerbahçe and AS Roma will meet for the first time in an official match. The two teams previously faced each other in a friendly on 19 August 2014 in Rome, Italy, ending in a 3-3 draw. At that time, Ismail Kartal was Fenerbahçe’s head coach.

Fenerbahçe’s official matches against Italian teams are as follows:

• 19.09.1984 (UEFA Europa League): Fenerbahçe 0-1 Fiorentina
• 03.10.1984 (UEFA Europa League): Fiorentina 2-0 Fenerbahçe
• 24.10.1990 (UEFA Europa League): Fenerbahçe 0-1 Atalanta
• 07.11.1990 (UEFA Europa League): Atalanta 4-1 Fenerbahçe
• 25.09.1996 (UEFA Champions League): Fenerbahçe 0-1 Juventus
• 04.12.1996 (UEFA Champions League): Juventus 2-0 Fenerbahçe
• 15.09.1998 (UEFA Europa League): Fenerbahçe 1-0 Parma
• 29.09.1998 (UEFA Europa League): Parma 3-1 Fenerbahçe
• 13.09.2005 (UEFA Champions League): Milan 3-1 Fenerbahçe
• 23.11.2005 (UEFA Champions League): Fenerbahçe 0-4 Milan
• 23.11.2006 (UEFA Europa League): Fenerbahçe 3-0 Palermo
• 19.09.2007 (UEFA Champions League): Fenerbahçe 1-0 Inter
• 27.11.2007 (UEFA Champions League): Inter 3-0 Fenerbahçe
• 04.04.2013 (UEFA Europa League): Fenerbahçe 2-0 Lazio
• 11.04.2013 (UEFA Europa League): Lazio 1-1 Fenerbahçe

Before their first UEFA Champions League match, Fenerbahçe suffered a 2-1 defeat to Beşiktaş in their local league derby. Two players are unavailable for the upcoming match: Matteo Guendouzi, who received a two-match suspension from UEFA, and Spanish player Marco Asensio, who remains injured. The team is captained by Slovak defender Milan Skriniar. Additionally, the Belgian player in Fenerbahçe’s squad wore the AS Roma jersey during the 2023-2024 season.

AS Roma, representing Italy, has been managed by Gian Piero Gasperini for two years. Roma began their Serie A campaign with three wins from three matches and most recently defeated Atalanta 2-1 in their last league game. The Italian side, with an average age of 26, includes France international Manu Kone, new signing Donyell Malen, as well as Santiago Castro, Matias Soule, Rodrigo Mora, Niccolo Pisilli and Paulo Dybala. Aside from Italian midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma have no other absent players.

A day before the match, a press conference was held at Chobani Stadium with the participation of both coaching staffs and players.

^{Fenerbahçe team captain Milan Skriniar and Fenerbahçe head coach İsmail Kartal (AA)}

Fenerbahçe Head Coach Ismail Kartal expressed his excitement at returning to the UEFA Champions League after 18 years and stated that fan support will be the team’s greatest driving force. Kartal said they have analyzed Roma and noted that the Italian side employs a high-intensity, physical style with strong man-to-man pressure across the pitch, but also leaves spaces vulnerable to counterattacks. He emphasized that Fenerbahçe will adopt a different formation and structure for this match, avoiding reliance solely on transition play and actively exploiting the gaps left by their opponent. Regarding the absences of Asensio and Guendouzi, the experienced coach affirmed that the rest of the squad will give their all and that he has full confidence in them. Fenerbahçe captain Milan Skriniar said he feels great responsibility due to the return of the Champions League to Kadıköy after 18 years and stressed the importance of securing the first points. Skriniar highlighted the physicality and high running distance of Gasperini’s Roma and emphasized the need for the team to move cohesively in both defense and attack.

^{Defender Mario Hermoso and Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini (AA)}

AS Roma Head Coach Gian Piero Gasperini described Fenerbahçe as a strong team with quality players and noted that they require time to adapt. The Italian coach stated his intention to impose his own playing style and secure victory. He mentioned having watched Fenerbahçe’s derby against Beşiktaş and acknowledged that despite the absence of key players like Asensio and Guendouzi, Fenerbahçe still possesses a very strong squad. Roma’s Spanish defender Mario Hermoso said they must deliver a performance befitting the Champions League level, aim to win three points without conceding, and leave the pitch with victory in accordance with the head coach’s instructions.

^{Fenerbahçe - Roma (AA)}

On 10 September 2026, Thursday, in the first matchweek of the UEFA Champions League group stage, Fenerbahçe hosted the Italian team Roma at the Chobani Stadium (Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex). The match was officiated by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano, with Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso serving as assistant referees. Before the match, a large-scale visual choreography was displayed in the goal-line stand, featuring a giant Frankenstein figure holding a Fenerbahçe flag, with the text "Fenerbahçe is back to haunt Europe" beneath it. This visual was published not only by UEFA’s official account but also by Italian media outlets Corriere dello Sport and SkySport. Additionally, before the match, the fans paid tribute to Gazi Gerçek Yaşar, a supporter who lost his life during the previous week’s match against Beşiktaş.

^{Fenerbahçe - Roma (AA)}

Fenerbahçe fielded Ederson, Mert Müldür, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, İsmail Yüksek, Bartuğ Elmaz, Kante, Greenwood, Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Vedat Muriqi in the starting eleven. In terms of squad selection, left-back player Levent Mercan was named on the bench to play in midfield. He came on in the 62nd minute to replace the injured Bartuğ Elmaz and took up a midfield role. Romelu Lukaku, who played for Roma during the 2023-24 season, entered the match in the 72nd minute, replacing Kerem Aktürkoğlu, to face his former team.

Roma started the match with Svilar, Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso, Rensch, Cristante, Kone, Wesley França, Dybala, Soule and Malen.

^{Fenerbahçe - Roma (AA)}

The first half was dominated by defensive and midfield battles. In the 28th minute, when Malen broke through Skriniar to enter the penalty area, İsmail Yüksek made a crucial defensive intervention. In the 33rd minute, Greenwood received the ball from a pass by Skriniar and delivered it to Kante, whose position was then cleared by the Roma defense. In the 39th minute, Bryan Cristante, who received Malen’s pass on the right diagonal of the penalty area, struck the ball into the net to give Roma a 1-0 lead. The first half ended with the away team leading 1-0.

^{Fenerbahçe - Roma (AA)}

Fenerbahçe started the second half strongly. In the 48th minute, Mason Greenwood played a pass behind the defense, allowing Archie Brown to run into the penalty area and equalize the score with a shot from inside the six-yard box. This goal marked Fenerbahçe’s first in the Champions League after an 18-year gap. In the 51st minute, Vedat Muriqi’s shot from a Kante pass was saved by goalkeeper Svilar. In the 60th minute, Soule’s header from a Rensch cross went over the bar. In the 63rd minute, Greenwood’s shot struck the side netting. In the 66th minute, Svilar controlled Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s shot. In the 72nd minute, after a pass from Greenwood, Lukaku cut inside from the right side of the penalty area and his shot was deflected away by Oğuz Aydın. In the 86th minute, a free kick from Levent Mercan led to a header by Nathan Ake that struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

^{İsmail Kartal (AA)}

Following the match against Roma, head coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation during the post-match press conference. Kartal declined to take questions from journalists, stating that he had been in charge for approximately three months, that the players had fulfilled their duties, and that he had decided to resign permanently to clear the way for the club’s future.

^{Aziz Yıldırım (AA)}

Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım, speaking at the stadium after the match, announced that he had not accepted Ismail Kartal’s resignation. He stated that during the match, a water bottle had been thrown at Kartal’s head, and that the experienced coach was deeply distressed by the incident and the resulting pressure. Yıldırım confirmed that he had spoken with Kartal and emphasized that the head coach remains in his position and that the club will not part ways before the end of the season.

The identity of the individual who threw a water bottle at head coach Ismail Kartal was determined under the instructions of the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and his statement was taken. The individual has been banned from attending matches under Law No. 6222.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, in his post-match assessment, highlighted the difficulty of playing away and acknowledged that his team made technical errors, while praising Fenerbahçe for their strong performance. Fenerbahçe player Archie Brown expressed disappointment at not winning but said he was satisfied with the team’s performance in the second half and the point earned. Bartuğ Elmaz and Levent Mercan both emphasized that every point gained at the Champions League level is valuable.

^{Aston Villa - Fenerbahçe match (AA)}

The Aston Villa versus Fenerbahçe match is an official football fixture scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham England as part of the second matchday of the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. The match will kick off at 22.00 Turkey time (20.00 local time) and will be officiated by referee Ivan Kružliak of the Slovak Football Association.

For this UEFA Champions League league phase matchday two encounter the assistant referees are Branislav Hancko and Jan Pozor both from the Slovak Football Association. Peter Kralović has been appointed as the fourth official. Tiago Martins of the Portuguese Football Association will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) while Robert Schröder of the German Football Association will perform the AVAR duties.

Fenerbahçe after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds after an eighteen-year absence played their first match in the 36-team UEFA Champions League league phase at home against Italian representatives AS Roma and drew 1-1. The yellow and navy side’s goal was scored by English left back Archie Brown. In the post-match report prepared by UEFA Technical Observer Kieran McKenna it was noted that central forward Vedat Muriqi’s movement deep into space disrupted the opponent’s man-to-man defensive structure while Archie Brown’s positional awareness inside the penalty area and finishing ability were highlighted.

Home side Aston Villa began their campaign in the first matchday with a 3-2 away victory over Club Brugge in Belgium. When examining the teams’ domestic league and previous season performances Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery finished in the top eight of the UEFA Europa League league phase last season. Fenerbahçe currently sits in fourth place in the Trendyol Süper Lig with four wins from their last seven matches. The yellow and navy side won the 2025-26 season as Süper Lig runners-up and claimed the Super Cup title by defeating Galatasaray 2-0 in the final held in January 2026. In the 2026-27 Champions League qualifiers they eliminated Górnik Zabrze Sturm Graz and Lyon in succession to reach the league phase.

Fenerbahçe conducted their final training session before the match on Tuesday 13 October 2026 at the Can Bartu Facilities. The training session led by manager İsmail Kartal began with core exercises indoors and was open to the press for the first fifteen minutes. It concluded on the pitch with coordination warm-ups five-on-two ball retention drills passing and tactical work.

^{Fenerbahçe preparations (AA)}

Having completed their preparations in Istanbul the delegation departed for Birmingham England on the same day. A press conference is scheduled at Villa Park at 20.15 Turkey time involving manager İsmail Kartal and one player.

Regarding squad status the national team player Mert Müldür who continues to recover from injury is the only player excluded from the matchday squad. Romelu Lukaku who is undergoing rehabilitation following a knock sustained in the Çaykur Rizespor match performed individual indoor training during the session; club officials have stated that his condition is not serious. In Fenerbahçe’s squad captain Milan Škriniar of Slovakia is joined by N’Golo Kanté who brings Premier League experience. The probable starting eleven according to sources consists of Ederson in goal Semedo Škriniar Aké and Brown in defense Kanté Guendouzi Greenwood and Asensio in midfield and Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Muriqi in attack.

Aston Villa and Fenerbahçe have met three times previously in official competitions. Aston Villa won all three encounters while Fenerbahçe failed to score against them. The first meeting occurred on 14 September 1977 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round in England where Aston Villa won 4-0 at home. In the return leg on 28 September 1977 in Istanbul Aston Villa won again 2-0.

The most recent official match between the two sides took place on 22 January 2026 in the seventh matchday of the UEFA Europa League league phase with Aston Villa winning 1-0 thanks to a goal by Jadon Sancho. Aston Villa have played seven official matches against Turkish teams winning five drawing one and losing one. In addition to Fenerbahçe the Birmingham club faced Beşiktaş in the 1982-83 European Cup Winners’ Cup (3-1 and 0-0) and Trabzonspor in the 1994-95 UEFA Cup (0-1 and 2-1).

With the Aston Villa match Fenerbahçe will be playing their 24th official match against English clubs. In their previous 23 encounters the yellow and navy side recorded six wins four draws and 13 losses scoring 18 goals and conceding 42.

Examining the history of matches against English teams the first encounter occurred in the 1968-69 European Cup when Fenerbahçe drew 0-0 away against Manchester City and won 2-1 at home to advance. In the 1996-97 UEFA Champions League group stage Fenerbahçe defeated Manchester United 1-0 away with a goal by Elvir Bolić ending Manchester United’s 40-year unbeaten home record in European competitions. In the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League group stage at Kadıköy Fenerbahçe defeated Manchester United 3-0 with Tuncay Şanlı scoring all three goals. In the 2007-08 season under manager Arthur Zico Fenerbahçe reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League defeating Chelsea 2-1 at home in the first leg but were eliminated after a 2-0 away defeat.

Other official matches played by Fenerbahçe against English clubs include two games against Arsenal in the 1979-80 Cup Winners’ Cup (0-2 and 0-0) a 0-1 loss to Newcastle United in the 2006-07 UEFA Cup two matches against Arsenal in the 2008-09 Champions League group stage (2-5 and 0-0) two matches against Arsenal in the 2013-14 Champions League qualifiers (0-3 and 0-2) two matches against Manchester United in the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League group stage (1-4 and 2-1) and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on 24 October 2024.

The match against Aston Villa will be Fenerbahçe’s 308th appearance in European competitions. In their previous 307 international matches the yellow and navy side recorded 122 wins 68 draws and 117 losses scoring 418 goals and conceding 427.

In the UEFA Champions League main phase (group and league stages) Fenerbahçe will be playing their 42nd match. In their previous 41 matches they have recorded 11 wins seven draws and 23 losses scoring 43 goals and conceding 71.

By competition Fenerbahçe have played 104 matches in the UEFA Europa League achieving 50 wins 31 draws and 23 losses scoring 148 goals and conceding 107. In the defunct UEFA Cup they played 54 matches with 18 wins 10 draws and 26 losses scoring 72 goals and conceding 91. In Champions League qualifying they played 48 matches with 19 wins 15 draws and 14 losses scoring 70 goals and conceding 54. In the former European Cup they played 33 matches with nine wins four draws and 20 losses scoring 30 goals and conceding 70. In the UEFA Conference League they have played 18 matches with 12 wins and six losses scoring 44 goals and conceding 23. In the Cup Winners’ Cup they played nine matches with three wins one draw and five losses scoring 11 goals and conceding 11.

This will be Fenerbahçe’s seventh participation in the Champions League main phase. Their performance by season is as follows: In 1996-97 they played six matches with two wins one draw and three losses scoring three goals and conceding six. In 2001-02 they lost all six matches scoring three goals and conceding 12. In 2004-05 they recorded three wins and three losses scoring 10 goals and conceding 13. In 2005-06 they earned one win one draw and four losses scoring six goals and conceding 14. Their most successful campaign came in 2007-08 when they reached the quarterfinals recording five wins two draws and three losses in 10 matches scoring 15 goals and conceding 14. In 2008-09 they played six matches with two draws and four losses scoring four goals and conceding 11. In the ongoing 2026-27 season they have played one match resulting in a draw with one goal scored and one goal conceded.

Fenerbahçe head coach İsmail Kartal provided comprehensive remarks at a press conference held at Villa Park, the venue of the upcoming match, regarding the team’s preparation and match strategy. Kartal emphasized that all plans for the match are centered on securing a victory. He noted that due to travel conditions, the team has prioritized physical rest for the players. The technical staff confirmed that the final training session was conducted in Istanbul and that adequate rest was ensured after the team’s arrival in Birmingham. Kartal underscored that the team’s energy and motivation levels are at a high standard. He expressed admiration for Aston Villa’s head coach Unai Emery’s consistent success in European competitions and recalled that despite losing key players at the start of the season and failing to achieve desired results early on, Aston Villa recovered in the previous season to finish in the top four of the league after a similar period of adjustment. Kartal stated that the team aims to return to Türkiye with the desired result by displaying disciplined play in this away fixture. He added that while winning remains the primary objective, a draw or even a narrow defeat under challenging away conditions could also be considered a strategic outcome. Kartal drew attention to upcoming matches against Slavia Prague and Liverpool in the coming weeks, arguing that squad rotation is unavoidable to minimize injury risks and maintain player freshness amid a congested fixture schedule. He affirmed that ensuring fairness and cohesion within the team is among the core responsibilities of the technical staff, noting that defensive inconsistencies during the first four weeks of the season had been analyzed and corrected, and that the tactical plan implemented against Çaykur Rizespor had yielded successful results.

^{Archie Brown and İsmail Kartal (AA)}

At the press conference alongside head coach İsmail Kartal, Fenerbahçe’s English footballer Archie Brown shared his assessments regarding the match and his role within the team. Brown expressed great excitement about competing in the Champions League and stated that the positive results achieved in the domestic league have boosted the team’s confidence. The footballer, who was born in and whose family resides in Birmingham, said returning to the city holds special meaning for him, but emphasized that his primary goal is not to visit family but to secure three points for the team. He noted that his main responsibility on the pitch is defensive work, and expressed satisfaction at being able to contribute to the team’s attacking organization in line with the head coach’s tactical preferences. He added that every time they step onto the pitch, their objectives are victory, maximum goals scored, and keeping a clean sheet.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery delivered a detailed analysis of the upcoming match during a press conference held at the Bodymoor Heath training facility. Emery stated that the match presents a high level of difficulty and that his team must elevate its competitive standard. He emphasized that they are adopting a realistic approach under pressure. The Spanish coach reminded the audience that Aston Villa have yet to secure a home victory at Villa Park this season and described the match against Fenerbahçe as a crucial opportunity to demonstrate progress and win their first home victory in front of their supporters. Emery recalled to his players the club’s 1982 European Cup triumph and their European campaign experience from two years ago, affirming that they will take to the pitch with high motivation fueled by fan support. The experienced coach highlighted Fenerbahçe’s rich history, high-quality players, and strong competitive capacity, noting that the yellow-and-navy team has been tactically analyzed under their new head coach. Emery stated that their goal is to finish in the top eight of the Champions League group stage to qualify directly for the next round, requiring five or six wins during the group phase. He added that they will strive to implement their own game plan against Fenerbahçe.

^{Unai Emery (AA)}

Aston Villa’s experienced footballer Matty Cash stated at the press conference that Fenerbahçe always plays at the highest level and is a challenging opponent. Cash drew attention to the passionate atmosphere created by Fenerbahçe supporters and described the match as a significant test for his team. He acknowledged the player departures and integration challenges following new signings at the start of the season, noting that building strong team bonds takes time, but expressed confidence in the quality of the squad. Cash emphasized the club’s aim to reestablish home dominance and assessed that Fenerbahçe’s English player Mason Greenwood, who has achieved significant milestones in English football at a young age, will seek to prove himself again in this match.

Prior to the match, the health status of players from both teams was updated by their respective medical and technical staff. Fenerbahçe’s national team player Mert Müldür, who continues to recover from injury, will not be included in the match squad and will not feature. It was announced that Romelu Lukaku’s health status and potential participation in the match will be determined following final evaluations by the medical team, as he has traveled with the squad to England. On the Aston Villa side, Dutch player Ian Maatsen has been confirmed as unavailable for the match. In contrast, it was announced that Amadou Onana, who has recovered from his injury, has resumed training with the team, while Leon Goretzka has been included in the match squad.

According to probable lineup projections reported in the sports media, Fenerbahçe is expected to field Ederson, Semedo, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Kante, Guendouzi, Asensio, Greenwood, Kerem and Vedat. The home side, Aston Villa, is anticipated to start with Suzuki, Cash, Lindelöf, Torres, Wan-Bissaka, Kamara, Gomes, McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi and Jackson.

Prior to the match, Fenerbahçe made a precautionary change to its squad, removing Marco Asensio from the matchday roster. Fenerbahçe’s English footballer Mason Greenwood faced loud jeers from home supporters at Aston Villa every time he touched the ball. Fenerbahçe began the match with a hesitant start, struggling to exit their own half during the first 15 minutes.

The starting lineups and substitutions for the match were as follows:

Home side Aston Villa, under manager Unai Emery, fielded Suzuki, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Matty Cash, Yasin Mbaye, Manzambi, Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Nicolas Jackson. Substitutions included Gomes replacing Manzambi in the 73rd minute and Alysson replacing Boubacar Kamara. In the 79th minute, Yasin Mbaye was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho and Nicolas Jackson by Tammy Abraham. In the 83rd minute, Ross Barkley was substituted by Leon Goretzka.

^{Aston Villa - Fenerbahçe Karşılaşması (AA)}

Away side Fenerbahçe, under manager İsmail Kartal, started with Ederson Moraes, Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Nathan Aké, Archie Brown, İsmail Yüksek, Matteo Guendouzi, Mason Greenwood, İrfan Can Kahveci, Oğuz Aydın and Vedat Muriqi. The substitutes on the bench were Mert Günok, Tarık Çetin, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Yiğit Efe Demir, Levent Mercan, Ognjen Mimovic, N'Golo Kanté, Bartuğ Elmaz, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Dorgeles Nene and Romelu Lukaku. In the 69th minute, Fenerbahçe made three simultaneous substitutions: Bartuğ Elmaz replaced İsmail Yüksek, Dorgeles Nene replaced Mason Greenwood and Romelu Lukaku replaced Vedat Muriqi.

In the 12th minute, following a corner kick from the left flank, Matteo Guendouzi failed to clear the ball, which remained near the penalty spot in front of Manzambi. After controlling the ball, Manzambi’s shot struck Milan Skriniar and deflected into the net, giving Aston Villa a 1-0 lead. In the 15th minute, Vedat Muriqi headed a cross from İrfan Can Kahveci on the right flank, but goalkeeper Suzuki made two quick saves to deny the goal. In the 17th minute, Vedat Muriqi found himself one-on-one with Suzuki after a pass from Oğuz Aydın, but the goalkeeper blocked the shot with his feet.

^{Aston Villa - Fenerbahçe Karşılaşması (AA)}

In the 31st minute, Boubacar Kamara intercepted a mistake by Vedat Muriqi and İsmail Yüksek in midfield and played the ball to Nicolas Jackson on the right diagonal of the penalty area. Jackson, facing the goalkeeper, shot into the net, extending the score to 2-0. In the 34th minute, Oğuz Aydın’s shot from the left flank after a pass from İrfan Can Kahveci struck the crossbar and went out of play. In the 39th minute, after İsmail Yüksek lost possession in midfield, Nicolas Jackson collected the ball on the right diagonal and fired a low shot from distance into the far post, making it 3-0. In the 42nd minute, Matteo Guendouzi of Fenerbahçe received a yellow card, and the first half ended with Aston Villa leading 3-0.

Fenerbahçe started the second half more effectively, organizing passing movements in the opponent’s half. In the 51st minute, following a free kick won on the left flank, İrfan Can Kahveci delivered a cross to the near post, where Milan Skriniar headed it, but goalkeeper Suzuki made the save. In the 52nd minute, John McGinn struck a powerful shot from outside the penalty area on the right diagonal after a pass from Yasin Mbaye, but goalkeeper Ederson blocked it. In the 66th minute, after a free kick taken by Mason Greenwood, Nicolas Jackson controlled the rebound and passed to Yasin Mbaye, who was drifting behind the defense. Mbaye’s one-on-one shot was saved by Ederson.

^{Aston Villa - Fenerbahçe Karşılaşması (AA)}

In the 67th minute, Manzambi received the ball in the penalty area from a pass by Yasin Mbaye and was brought down by İsmail Yüksek, prompting referee Ivan Kruzliak to award a penalty. In the 68th minute, Ross Barkley converted the penalty, sending the ball into the top corner to make it 4-0. In the 72nd minute, Yasin Mbaye received the ball on the left flank and passed to Ross Barkley at the edge of the penalty area. Barkley’s shot struck Bartuğ Elmaz and deflected past Ederson into the net. In the 78th minute, Fenerbahçe fans voiced their discontent toward manager İsmail Kartal, calling for his resignation; at the same minute, Oğuz Aydın received a yellow card. In the 85th minute, Oğuz Aydın’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area was tipped onto the crossbar by Suzuki. In the 90th minute, John McGinn entered the penalty area from the right flank and passed to Tammy Abraham at the far post, who slotted the ball into the empty net to seal the match at 6-0.

Following the match, both teams’ managers and players offered their assessments:

^{İsmail Kartal (AA)}

Fenerbahçe manager İsmail Kartal stated in his press conference and media briefing that, given the scoreline, the result was not deserved. He highlighted that simple passing errors and ball losses were quickly punished by the opposition, and apologized to the club and its supporters for the outcome. He explained that the team had planned to introduce N'Golo Kanté at halftime to add dynamism to midfield, but due to concerns over the player’s inability to perform at 100 percent and the risk of injury, they were forced to substitute him with Bartuğ Elmaz. Kartal noted that the team had responded well until the 62nd minute, but after the penalty goal, the game fell apart. He emphasized the need to focus on their upcoming league match against Corendon Alanyaspor in three days.

Fenerbahçe captain Milan Skriniar declared in his post-match media comments that the result was humiliating. He stressed the need to confront mistakes openly rather than hide from them, noting that errors at Champions League level carried a heavy price. Skriniar pointed out that clear scoring chances in the first half were not converted, and that the situation deteriorated after the fourth goal. He called for greater unity among the coaching staff and players.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, in his press conference, said the team had earned three points at home and secured their first victory in front of their supporters. Although the final score was 6-0, Emery acknowledged that Fenerbahçe had created goal-scoring opportunities and stated that the opponent did not deserve such a heavy defeat.

The match result received extensive coverage in the international sports press:

The British press outlet The Mirror reported that Aston Villa delivered a ruthless performance, with Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley each scoring twice, as the Turkish representative suffered a crushing defeat. The Sun noted that the home side dismantled their opponent and displayed superior play on the pitch. BBC stated that Fenerbahçe was helpless on the field and that Aston Villa secured their first home win of the season with this six-goal victory. The Guardian emphasized that Aston Villa had recorded their most distinctive Champions League win to date, highlighting physical strength and tempo as decisive factors. The Telegraph observed that the English side controlled the match from the first whistle.

From the French press, Foot Mercato announced the match under the headline “Aston Villa Crushes Opponent,” while L'Equipe ran the headline “Aston Villa Destroys Fenerbahçe,” stating that the English team had overwhelmed their opponent with superior play.

In Germany and Spain, Kicker reported that Aston Villa left the field with a dominant and decisive victory. The Spanish newspaper AS recorded that Unai Emery’s players delivered a superior performance against a Fenerbahçe side unable to resist. Marca emphasized that the English team had erased the Turkish representative from the field.

Following the match, Aston Villa increased their league points to six, while Fenerbahçe remained on one point, placing them 29th in the standings. Fenerbahçe’s next fixture in the Champions League group stage is a home match against Slavia Prague.

Under manager İsmail Kartal, Fenerbahçe had conceded a maximum of two goals in their 14 official matches prior to this fixture (seven league, seven Champions League). This away match against Aston Villa marked the first time they conceded more than two goals at home in an official match.

Additionally, this was the first time in approximately three years that Fenerbahçe had conceded six goals at home in European competition. Previously, on 30 November 2023, under İsmail Kartal, they lost 6-1 away to Nordsjælland in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

This match was the fourth official encounter between the two clubs. The teams first met in the 1977-1978 UEFA Cup: Aston Villa won 4-0 in England on 14 September 1977 and 2-0 in Istanbul on 28 September 1977. In the previous season’s UEFA Europa League match played in Kadıköy, Aston Villa won 1-0. With this 6-0 victory, Aston Villa has now won all four official matches against Fenerbahçe, who have failed to score a single goal in the series.

^{Fenerbahçe - Slavia Praha match (AA)}

The Fenerbahçe - Slavia Praha match is an official football fixture scheduled to be played on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, in Istanbul, as part of the third matchday of the group stage of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. This match marks Fenerbahçe's 309th appearance in European competitions and their 43rd in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The match will kick off at 19:45 Turkey time on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, at the Chobani Stadı in Istanbul. It will be officiated by Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos, with his assistants Iker De Francisco and Ivan Masso Granado, both also from Spain. The match will be broadcast live in Türkiye on TRT 1, the national digital platform, and TRT Radyo 1.

Under head coach İsmail Kartal, Fenerbahçe began their campaign in the 36-team group stage of the UEFA Champions League, their first participation in 18 years, with a 1-1 draw against Roma at home. In the second matchday, the yellow-blue side suffered a 6-0 defeat away to Aston Villa in England. In their most recent match in the Trendyol Süper Lig, Fenerbahçe defeated Corendon Alanyaspor 3-0. Ahead of this match, Fenerbahçe has two injured players: national team player Mert Müldür, whose injury continues, and Marco Asensio, who is scheduled for surgery next week and will therefore miss the match. The probable starting eleven announced by the yellow-blue side consists of Ederson, Semedo, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Kante, Guendouzi, Greenwood, İrfan Can Kahveci, Oğuz Aydın and Muric.

Czech representatives Slavia Praha have failed to earn any points in their first two matches of the UEFA Champions League group stage. In their opening match, they lost 3-2 at home to French side Lens, and in the second matchday, they were defeated 2-0 away to Sabah in Azerbaijan.

Ahead of the match against Slavia Praha, Fenerbahçe have played 308 official matches in European competitions, recording 122 wins, 68 draws and 118 defeats, with 418 goals scored and 433 conceded. In terms of competitions, in the now-defunct UEFA Cup, Fenerbahçe played 54 matches, achieving 18 wins, 10 draws and 26 defeats, scoring 72 goals and conceding 91. In the UEFA Europa League, they have played 104 matches, securing 50 wins, 31 draws and 23 losses, scoring 148 goals and conceding 107. In the now-defunct European Cup for Champions Clubs, the Istanbul club appeared in 33 matches, with 9 wins, 4 draws and 20 defeats, scoring 30 goals and conceding 70. In UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Fenerbahçe played 48 matches, achieving 19 wins, 15 draws and 14 defeats, scoring 70 goals and conceding 54. In the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, they played 9 matches, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses, scoring 11 goals and conceding 11. In the UEFA Europa Conference League, the yellow-blue side has played 18 matches, winning 12 and losing 6, scoring 44 goals and conceding 23.

Fenerbahçe are competing in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the seventh time. In their previous 42 matches in this competition, they have recorded 11 wins, 7 draws and 24 defeats, scoring 43 goals and conceding 77. The club achieved its greatest success in the tournament during the 2007-08 season under Brazilian head coach Arthur Zico, reaching the quarter-finals. The English side Chelsea, who eliminated Fenerbahçe that season, went on to reach the semi-finals. Reviewing Fenerbahçe's past performances in the Champions League group stage: in the 1996-97 season, they played six matches, winning two, drawing one and losing three, scoring three goals and conceding six. In the 2001-02 season, they lost all six matches, scoring three goals and conceding twelve. In the 2004-05 season, they won three and lost three of six matches, scoring ten goals and conceding thirteen. In the 2005-06 season, they won one, drew one and lost four of six matches, scoring seven goals and conceding fourteen. In the 2007-08 quarter-final campaign, they played ten matches, winning five, drawing two and losing three, scoring fifteen goals and conceding fourteen. In the 2008-09 season, they played six matches, drawing two and losing four, scoring four goals and conceding eleven. In the first two matches of the 2026-27 season, Fenerbahçe have drawn one and lost one, scoring one goal and conceding seven.

With the match against Slavia Praha, Fenerbahçe will play their 17th official match against Czech representatives. In their previous 16 encounters with Czech teams, Fenerbahçe have recorded six wins, three draws and seven defeats. The rivalry began in the 1983-84 season, when Fenerbahçe lost 1-0 at home and 4-0 away to Bohemians Prag. In the 1989-90 UEFA Champions League, Fenerbahçe lost 3-1 away and 2-1 at home to Sparta Prague. Fenerbahçe recorded their first victory against a Czech team on 21 October 1992 in the UEFA Cup, defeating Sigma Olomouc 1-0 at home. However, in the return leg, they suffered a 7-1 away defeat, one of the heaviest losses in their European history.

In the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League season, Fenerbahçe faced Sparta Prague again and defeated them 1-0 in both legs. In the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League round of 16, Fenerbahçe met Viktoria Plzen, winning 1-0 away and drawing 1-1 at home to advance to the quarter-finals. In the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, under head coach İsmail Kartal, Fenerbahçe lost both legs 3-2 to Slavia Praha. In the 2022-23 season, Fenerbahçe defeated Slovacko 3-0 at home and drew 1-1 away. In the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League season, they defeated Slavia Praha 2-1 in Prague. Fenerbahçe's most recent match against a Czech team was in the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League season, ending in a 0-0 draw against Viktoria Plzen.

Fenerbahçe and Slavia Praha have met three times in official competitions. Slavia Praha have won two of these matches, while Fenerbahçe have won one. Slavia Praha have played a total of seven official matches against Turkish clubs: three against Fenerbahçe, two against Beşiktaş and two against Sivasspor. In the 2002-03 UEFA Cup, the Czech side won 1-0 at home against Beşiktaş but lost 4-2 in Istanbul. In the group stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League, Slavia Praha drew 1-1 with Sivasspor in both matches.

The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 season match between Fenerbahçe and Slavia Prague was played on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 21:45 at the Chobani Stadium in Istanbul. The match was officiated by Ricardo de Burgos from the Royal Spanish Football Federation, with assistants Iker De Francisco and Ivan Masso Granado. Fenerbahçe left the pitch with a 2-2 draw, securing their second draw in the group and raising their point total to 2. The home team’s goals were scored by Oğuz Aydın in the 4th minute and Mason Greenwood in the 11th minute, while Slavia Prague’s goals came from Provod in the 15th minute and Pavel Kacor in the 90th minute.

^{Fenerbahçe - Slavia Prag karşılaşması (AA)}

Fenerbahçe’s starting eleven consisted of Ederson in goal; Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Nathan Ake and Archie Brown in defense; N’Golo Kante, Matteo Guendouzi, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Mason Greenwood and Oğuz Aydın in midfield; and Vedat Muriqi as striker. During the match, Fenerbahçe’s coaching staff made five substitutions. At the 21st minute, Nathan Ake was replaced by Oppong after suffering an injury; at the 63rd minute, Oğuz Aydın was replaced by Dorgeles Nene and Vedat Muriqi was replaced by Romelu Lukaku; at the 82nd minute, Kerem Aktürkoğlu was replaced by İsmail Yüksek and Mason Greenwood was replaced by İrfan Can Kahveci.

Slavia Prague fielded Markovic in goal; Vlcek, Zima, N’Guessan, Suleiman, Moses, Nowak, Kubiak, Ayaosi and Provod in defense and midfield; and Sturm as striker. Substitutions for Slavia Prague included Isife replacing Vlcek and Chytil replacing Sturm at the 62nd minute; Diakite replacing Kubiak at the 75th minute; and Pavel Kacor replacing Suleiman and Sadilek replacing Provod at the 85th minute. During the match, Fenerbahçe’s N’Golo Kante received a yellow card in the 31st minute, Milan Skriniar in the 49th minute, and İsmail Yüksek in the 88th minute; while Slavia Prague’s manager Jindřich Trpišovský was cautioned in the 59th minute and player Nowak received a yellow card in the 60th minute.

Fenerbahçe began the match with intense pressure in the attacking third and took the lead in the 4th minute. Oğuz Aydın, receiving the ball on the right flank, cut inside and struck a powerful left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Markovic and found the top corner of the net, making the score 1-0. In the 6th minute, N’Golo Kante received a pass from Vedat Muriqi and attempted to advance the attack, but Slavia Prague’s defense neutralized the threat. In the 7th minute, Slavia Prague created a dangerous chance inside the penalty area through Sturm, but a critical defensive intervention prevented a goal.

^{Fenerbahçe - Slavia Prag karşılaşması (AA)}

Fenerbahçe extended their lead to 2-0 in the 11th minute. Mason Greenwood won the ball in the opposition half and passed to Nelson Semedo on the right wing; after controlling Semedo’s cross into the penalty area, Greenwood fired a powerful right-footed shot that found the net, making the score 2-0. Slavia Prague reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 15th minute. After a pass from goalkeeper Ederson, Matteo Guendouzi’s misplaced pass near the penalty spot was intercepted by Provod, who then calmly finished past the goalkeeper.

In the 17th minute, a free kick taken by Kerem Aktürkoğlu deflected off the wall and led to a foul call by the referee on Archie Brown. In the 19th minute, Fenerbahçe defender Nathan Ake collapsed on the pitch after suffering an injury to his right upper hamstring; after initial treatment on the field, he was substituted by Oppong in the 21st minute. In the 22nd minute, a powerful volley from Oğuz Aydın outside the penalty area was cleared at the last moment by the defense. In the 26th minute, a Slavia Prague attack was halted by an offside call. In the 28th minute, a Fenerbahçe attack saw Guendouzi’s shot from a Greenwood pass narrowly go over the crossbar. In the 30th minute, a powerful shot from Semedo following a pass with Kerem Aktürkoğlu was fingertipped over the bar by goalkeeper Markovic. In the 36th and 37th minutes, Oğuz Aydın’s left diagonal shots struck the side netting and went out of play. In the final moments of the first half, in the 45th minute, a left-wing cross from Archie Brown was controlled on the chest by Vedat Muriqi, whose left-footed shot was saved by goalkeeper Markovic. The first half ended with Fenerbahçe leading 2-1.

In the 47th minute of the second half, a pass from Kerem Aktürkoğlu on the left flank toward the penalty area was intercepted by the Slavia Prague defense. In the 51st minute, a pass from N’Golo Kante into the space behind the defense found Oğuz Aydın, but Slavia Prague’s defense intervened. In the 53rd minute, a buildup from Archie Brown on the left flank was halted. In the 61st minute, a diagonal shot from Nowak, who received a pass from Sturm inside the penalty area, was blocked at the last moment by the Fenerbahçe defense. In the 63rd minute, Dorgeles Nene replaced Oğuz Aydın and Romelu Lukaku replaced Vedat Muriqi for Fenerbahçe.

^{Fenerbahçe - Slavia Prag karşılaşması (AA)}

In the 64th minute, Romelu Lukaku won a duel and delivered a pass into the penalty area, where Dorgeles Nene’s one-on-one shot was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Markovic. In the 66th minute, Fenerbahçe cleared a corner kick from Provod; in the 69th minute, a pass combination between Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Romelu Lukaku was disrupted by the defense. In the 74th minute, a cross from Brown on the left flank was collected by goalkeeper Markovic. In the 82nd minute, Romelu Lukaku received a pass from Greenwood inside the penalty area and struck a quick shot that went just over the crossbar.

In the 90th minute, Slavia Prague equalized the score. Ayaosi received the ball on the right flank and delivered a cross into the penalty area; Pavel Kacor, moving to meet the ball in front of the goal, struck a powerful shot that sent the ball into the net, making the final score 2-2. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Statistical data showed that both teams attempted 15 shots on target. Fenerbahçe had 25 possessions inside the opponent’s penalty area, while Slavia Prague had 24. In expected goals (xG) metrics, Fenerbahçe finished the match with a value of 1.07 xG, while Slavia Prague reached 1.48 xG.

Several historical records and statistical highlights emerged from the match. Oğuz Aydın’s goal in the 4th minute became the earliest goal ever scored by Fenerbahçe in UEFA Champions League history. The club’s previous record was a goal scored in the 6th minute against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-2002 season. With this goal, Oğuz Aydın also scored his first career goal in European competitions.

Following the draw, Fenerbahçe failed to win a match in European competitions for the first time since their 2-2 tie with Marseille in September 2012, having previously secured two different leads in the same match. Additionally, having conceded a total of nine goals in their first three group stage matches of the 2026-27 season (Roma 1-1, Aston Villa 6-0, Slavia Prague 2-2), Fenerbahçe matched their club record for most goals conceded in the first three group stage matches, previously set in the 2004-2005 season.

Immediately after the equalizing goal in the 90th minute, Fenerbahçe supporters at the Chobani Stadium began chanting for the resignation of manager İsmail Kartal for an extended period. İsmail Kartal left the pitch directly for the dressing room without waiting for the players after the final whistle.

^{İsmail Kartal (AA)}

Speaking at the post-match press conference, manager İsmail Kartal expressed regret for disappointing the fans after leading 2-0, acknowledged Slavia Prague as a physically strong team, and admitted that his side failed to capitalize on clear chances in the second half. He explained that Nathan Ake was substituted due to discomfort in his right hamstring and that an MRI scan would determine the extent of the injury. Responding to criticism over the substitution of Oğuz Aydın, Kartal stated that Oğuz had played three or four consecutive matches and was fatigued in the second half, while Kerem Aktürkoğlu, despite not contributing directly to the scoreline, provided greater defensive support. Regarding the fan protests calling for his resignation, Kartal emphasized that he would reconcile with the supporters by winning the upcoming Galatasaray derby and the following matches.

In post-match comments to the press, player Mason Greenwood stated that the team showed sufficient performance to win but were unfortunate. He noted that the tempo of the game dropped in the second half but emphasized that neither side gained clear dominance. Greenwood affirmed his readiness to play in any position assigned by the manager and disagreed with criticisms that the team had retreated too deeply.