Fenerbahçe defeated Sturm Graz in the Champions League qualifiers.
Fenerbahçe defeated Sturm Graz 2-0 at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Talisca and Greenwood scored to give the home team the victory, while Sturm Graz ended the match with a defeat.
- 0'The match has started.
Fenerbahçe hosts Sturm Graz.
- 9'Talisca opened the scoring for Fenerbahçe
In the 9th minute, Talisca scored for Fenerbahçe after an assist from K. Akturkoglu, putting the home team ahead of Sturm Graz. Fenerbahçe started proactively and quickly capitalized on their momentum with the opening goal.
- 13'Fenerbahçe dominated from the start of the match.
In the 13th minute, Fenerbahçe completely controlled the game with 84% possession and a 1-0 lead. Sturm Graz had to retreat deep to defend, as the home team had already scored to make it 2-0.
- 21'J. Gorenc Stankovic received a yellow card.
In the 21st minute, J. Gorenc Stankovic of Sturm Graz received a yellow card for a roughing foul. The card came while Sturm Graz were trailing 1-0, forcing the visitors to be more cautious.
- 27'Fenerbahçe dominated the game.
After 27 minutes, Fenerbahçe was in complete control with 78% possession and 22%, leading Sturm Graz. Sturm Graz was mostly on the defensive, with the home team also having a slight advantage in shots (3-1), including 2-0 on target.
- 30 minutesFenerbahçe made substitutions from the 30th minute.
In the 30th minute, Fenerbahçe brought A. Brown on to replace J. Oosterwolde. The home team was leading 1-0 and had a clear advantage in terms of possession.
- 41'Fenerbahçe dominated before halftime.
41st minuteFenerbahçe is completely controlling the game with a high possession rate.80% - 20%This forced Sturm Graz to retreat deep into their own half. The home team created more pressure, as evidenced by the number of shots on goal.3 - 2, in which the number of hits is2 - 0.
- 45'Greenwood doubled Fenerbahçe's lead.
In the 45th minute, M. Greenwood scored after an assist from M. Asensio, helping Fenerbahçe extend their lead to 2-0 against Sturm Graz. The home team was dominating the game and held a clear advantage before halftime.
- 45'End of the first half
At the end of the first half, the score was 2-0.
- 46'The second half has begun.
The second half has begun.
- 46'Sturm Graz made personnel changes at the start of the second half.
46th minuteSturm Graz brought A. Kayombo on to replace S. Wlodarczyk. The visitors needed to make a difference after falling behind 2-0 to Fenerbahçe.
- 53'Fenerbahçe took control of the game after the break.
In the 53rd minute, Fenerbahçe still maintained complete control with possession.79% - 21%, and also excel in finishing.6 - 3Sturm Graz are forced to defend deep, while the home team continues to maintain pressure after taking a 2-0 lead.
- 58'J. Heil received a yellow card in the 58th minute.
In the 58th minute, J. Heil of Sturm Graz received a yellow card after a foul. This indicated that the visiting team was struggling under pressure from Fenerbahçe.
- 64'Sturm Graz made a substitution in the 64th minute.
In the 64th minute, G. Mamageishvili came on as a substitute for S. Seidl for Sturm Graz. This was a substitution made by Sturm Graz as they were trailing Fenerbahçe 2-0.
- 64'Sturm Graz made a substitution in the 64th minute.
In the 64th minute, R. Fosso came on as a substitute for L. Weinhandl for Sturm Graz. Trailing Fenerbahçe, Sturm Graz were forced to make substitutions in an attempt to improve their performance.
- 64'Sturm Graz made a substitution in the 64th minute.
In the 64th minute, N. Weiper came on as a substitute for S. Jatta in the Sturm Graz lineup. This was a notable change as Sturm Graz were trailing Fenerbahçe 2-0 and under immense pressure.
- 65'A. Kayombo received a yellow card for Diving.
In the 65th minute, A. Kayombo of Sturm Graz received a yellow card for diving. This signaled that the pressure was still on Fenerbahçe, who were clearly controlling the game.
- 66'Fenerbahçe continued to dominate the game.
In the 66th minute, Fenerbahçe still completely controlled the game with a high possession rate.76% - 24%and leading 2-0. Sturm Graz were under considerable pressure after their last shot.8 - 3, and the number of shots on target also favored the home team.5 - 1.
- 69'Fred came on, Fenerbahçe strengthened their lead.
In the 69th minute, Fred came on as a substitute for M. Greenwood for Fenerbahçe. The home team was controlling the game and leading 2-0, so Fred's appearance could help them maintain pressure in the remaining minutes.
- 69'Fenerbahçe brought I. Kahveci onto the field.
In the 69th minute, I. Kahveci came on as a substitute for M. Asensio for Fenerbahçe. The home team continued to make personnel changes while dominating the game against Sturm Graz.
- 78'Fenerbahçe dominated, Sturm Graz suffered a defeat.
In the 78th minute, Fenerbahçe still completely controlled the game, leading 2-0 and possessing the ball for 74% - 26% of the time. Sturm Graz mostly retreated deep into defense, as evidenced by the difference in shots on goal (14 - 4) and only 1 shot on target compared to their opponent's 9.
- 85'Fenerbahçe made a substitution in the 85th minute.
In the 85th minute, Fenerbahçe brought on O. Aydin to replace K. Akturkoglu. The home team made the substitution while holding a 2-0 lead against Sturm Graz.
- 85'Fenerbahçe made a substitution in the 85th minute.
In the 85th minute, M. Muldur came on as a substitute for N. Semedo for Fenerbahçe. The Turkish team held a clear 2-0 lead, and this substitution allowed them to refresh their lineup in the final minutes.
- 87'Sturm Graz made a substitution in the 87th minute.
In the 87th minute, Sturm Graz brought B. Beganovic on to replace J. Hodl. This was a late substitution given that the visitors were trailing Fenerbahçe 2-0.
- 90'Fenerbahçe is in complete control.
In the 90th minute, Fenerbahçe still completely controlled the game with73% - 27%superior possession and finishing ability.15 - 5Sturm Graz was under immense pressure, as evidenced by the number of saves he made.1 - 8in an effort to limit further goals conceded.
- KTFinal score: Fenerbahçe 2-0 Sturm Graz
The match ended with a score of 2-0.
Updated at 02:59 on August 6, 2026
Match information
Fenerbahçe will face Sturm Graz in the UEFA Champions League at 01:00 on August 6, 2026. The match will take place at Chobani Stadium Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu, where Fenerbahçe is designated as the home team.
This is a clash between two teams showing positive signs of recent form. Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in their last two matches, while Sturm Graz have won both of their last two. This balance means the match is likely to be decided by the ability to control the game and capitalize on opportunities.
Fenerbahçe has a stable foundation.
In their last two matches, Fenerbahçe have won one and drawn one. This run of results shows the team maintains consistency, although they haven't achieved a perfect winning streak. When playing at home, Fenerbahçe need to translate that consistency into a more proactive approach to their game.
It's worth noting that Fenerbahçe haven't suffered a defeat in their recent run of form. This could give the home team a certain level of confidence going into the match, especially when Sturm Graz are putting pressure on them. However, to control the game, Fenerbahçe will need to maintain focus throughout instead of relying solely on home advantage.
Sturm Graz presents a significant challenge.
Sturm Graz have won their last two matches. Compared to Fenerbahçe, the visitors have a more impressive run of results in terms of recent performance. This form could provide a foundation for Sturm Graz to play proactively, not only focusing on defense but also seeking to apply pressure when opportunities arise.
The challenge for Sturm Graz is to maintain effectiveness when playing away from home. The team needs to keep a good defensive line, limit space in the midfield, and prevent Fenerbahçe from controlling the tempo for too long. If they do that well, Sturm Graz can draw the game into a back-and-forth affair, where a single accurate finish could make all the difference.
The matchup slightly favors Fenerbahçe.
In their last two encounters, Fenerbahçe won one match and drew one, while Sturm Graz has yet to win. This trend gives Fenerbahçe a certain level of confidence in their head-to-head record, but the gap isn't so large that the home team can underestimate their opponent.
The fact that Fenerbahçe haven't lost in their last two encounters shows they know how to limit Sturm Graz. However, these combined results don't replace on-field performance. Sturm Graz still have grounds to expect a tight match, especially given their perfect winning record in their last two games.
The key tactical point
The match could revolve around a battle for control of space and tempo. Fenerbahçe will likely want to capitalize on their home advantage to increase the pressure, but need to avoid an unbalanced attacking approach. If they fail to maintain consistent pressure, the home team could give Sturm Graz opportunities to counter-attack.
Conversely, Sturm Graz needs to prioritize defensive discipline before attempting to move the ball forward. The ability to switch between attacking and defensive phases will be a noteworthy approach, but the visitors must also consider the risks of pushing many players out of position. A tight game could make set pieces, midfield battles, and individual errors more crucial.
Fenerbahçe will need to prove that their positive head-to-head record can translate into an advantage on the pitch. Meanwhile, Sturm Graz enter the match with confidence from two consecutive wins and could pose a challenge if they maintain their consistent performance.
Pre-match analysis
Fenerbahçe has the home advantage and is undefeated in their last two encounters with Sturm Graz. However, Sturm Graz has better recent form, winning both of their last two matches. Therefore, this is a match where Fenerbahçe needs to control the game, while Sturm Graz can focus on discipline and their ability to react to pressure.
Overall, Fenerbahçe has a slight advantage due to their home advantage and head-to-head record, but Sturm Graz's form makes the situation unpredictable. Maintaining focus, managing space, and capitalizing on decisive moments will be key factors.
*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
