For the love of the Canaries Champions League! Fenerbahçe in a crucial away match against Benfica! Here are the probable starting 11s

WHO WILL BUY THE LEAGUE STAGE TICKET?

The two teams drew goalless in last week's match in Kadıköy. The Canaries will secure a spot in the league stage with any away win. If the 90 minutes end in a draw, extra time will begin, and if the score remains the same, a penalty shootout will follow.

CANARY LAST PARTICIPATED IN THE 2008-2009 SEASON

The Canaries are planning to compete in the league stage, implemented by UEFA at the start of the 2024-2025 season, for the first time. The Yellow Canaries last competed in the Champions League group stage in the 2008-2009 season. Despite securing a spot in the Champions League as Süper Lig champions in 2011 and 2014, the Istanbul side received two-year UEFA bans from European competitions . They failed to qualify in the competition in subsequent seasons.

Benfica, on the other hand, struggled in the league last year. The Portuguese team earned 13 points from eight matches, qualifying for the playoffs, and was eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16.

The critical match will start at 22:00 (İHA)

8TH TIME WITH BENFICA

Fenerbahçe will face Portuguese side Benfica for the eighth time. The two teams have previously competed in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, Europa League, and Champions League qualifiers. While the Yellow Canaries failed to defeat the Red Canaries in the qualifying rounds or semi-finals (2013), they are aiming for a first this year. In the seven meetings between the two sides, Benfica has won three, Fenerbahçe two, and two have ended in draws.

OFFICIAL MATCH AFTER 32 DAYS

The Yellow Canaries competed at the Estadio da Luz in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final on May 2, 2013, with the home team securing the final spot. The two sides then faced off again at the same stadium on August 7, 2018, in the Champions League Third Qualifying Round. The last time the two teams met in Lisbon was on July 26, 2025, in a friendly match known as the Eusebio Cup. The Portuguese side won the match 3-2. Thirty-two days later, Jose Mourinho's men will face Benfica in an official match, this time away.