Two Turkish Clubs to Feature in Champions League for First Time in 18 Seasons

Fenerbahçe's 2-1 win over French side Olympique Lyon in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff tie, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, secured the Turkish club's place in the league phase and marked the first time in 18 seasons that two Turkish teams will compete in Europe's elite club competition. The Istanbul club, which finished the previous season as champions of the Trendyol Süper Lig, joins Galatasaray as the second Turkish representative in the 36-team league phase. The last time two Turkish clubs featured in the Champions League was in the 2007-2008 season, when Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe competed in the group stage under the tournament's previous format.

Overall, this will be the sixth time that two Turkish teams have appeared in the Champions League. In the 1997-1998, 2000-2001 and 2003-2004 seasons, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş represented Turkey. In the 2001-2002 season, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe took part, while Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş featured in the 2007-2008 campaign. The wait for two Turkish clubs in the competition has now come to an end.