Openda and Greenwood score as Fenerbahçe and Lyon draw 1-1 in Istanbul
Loïs Openda and Mason Greenwood scored in Istanbul as Fenerbahçe and Lyon drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie before the return match in France.
First-half breakthrough in Istanbul
Olympique Lyonnais earned a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe on Tuesday evening during the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie at the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium in Istanbul. The home team opened the match on the front foot and registered the first clear scoring chance in the 9th minute when striker Vedat Muriqi sent a header wide of the goal. Lyon responded with controlled possession through midfield, recording their first shot on target in the 23rd minute when Tanner Tessmann tested goalkeeper Ederson from long distance. The French club broke through in the 40th minute after captain Corentin Tolisso won an aerial challenge near the edge of the penalty box. Tolisso advanced into the area and delivered a cutback cross to Loïs Openda, who directed a header into the net for his first goal since joining Lyon on loan from Juventus. The visitors took a 1-0 advantage into the half-time break.
Second-half equalizer and woodwork strikes
Fenerbahçe responded quickly after the interval, leveling the score within two minutes of the restart. English winger Mason Greenwood found space inside the right side of the penalty area in the 47th minute and curled a shot into the top corner past Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif. Lyon almost restored their lead five minutes later in the 52nd minute when Openda struck the right post of Ederson's goal, with no teammate available to convert the rebound. Fenerbahçe threatened again in the closing stages of the match as substitute winger Dorgeles Nene, formerly of Westerlo, saw his 80th-minute effort hit Greif's right post. Both teams pushed through open midfield spaces during the final quarter of the match, yet neither converted another chance.
- Vedat Muriqi heads wide of the target for Fenerbahçe.
- Tanner Tessmann tests Ederson with a long-range shot on target for Lyon.
- Loïs Openda scores a header from Corentin Tolisso's cross to put Lyon ahead 1-0.
- Mason Greenwood curls a shot into the top corner to equalize 1-1 for Fenerbahçe.
- Loïs Openda strikes the right post for Lyon.
- Dorgeles Nene strikes the right post for Fenerbahçe.
- Romelu Lukaku enters the match as a substitute to make his Fenerbahçe debut.
- Malick Fofana is substituted off for Lyon in stoppage time.
Belgian international debuts and squad selections
The match drew considerable attention in Belgium, with national team head coach Mark van Bommel watching the fixture from the stands in Istanbul. Striker Romelu Lukaku made his first competitive appearance for Fenerbahçe after entering the match in the 82nd minute, having started on the bench. Lyon deployed an attacking lineup that featured Openda as the central forward, flanked by Malick Fofana on the left wing and Ernest Nuamah on the right wing. Fofana started the match despite ongoing transfer discussions regarding a potential move to AS Roma, eventually being substituted in the 91st minute of stoppage time. Fenerbahçe started defender Milan Skriniar to anchor their backline, while Belgian winger Julien Duranville spent the full match as an unused substitute on Lyon's bench.
Play-off schedule and return fixture
The 1-1 draw leaves both clubs with equal chances ahead of the second leg in France. Lyon will host Fenerbahçe at home on Wednesday, 26 August, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 CEST. The aggregate winner of the fixture will advance directly into the league phase of the Champions League. Four additional first-leg matches in the final qualifying round are scheduled for Wednesday evening. The decisive return legs across the competition will conclude between Tuesday, 25 August, and Wednesday, 26 August.
