The first match in Istanbul ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the aggregate score even as they head into the second leg. The team that emerges victorious will secure a spot in the Champions League group stage, while the losing side will drop down to the Europa League. Both teams played league matches on Saturday, August 22, so neither has the advantage of additional rest. Their only prior encounter, a Europa League clash in January 2025, concluded without any goals. Lyon has successfully overturned a deficit at home before. In the last round, they suffered a 2-1 loss to Sparta Prague but managed to win the second leg 3-0 on home soil. They will need to replicate this performance to progress again, and this match marks their only home game in this competition this season. Lyon comes into this match following a 2-0 victory over Toulouse in Ligue 1 on August 22. In their three Champions League matches, they have scored five goals and conceded three, achieving one win, one draw, and one loss. Their 4-0 defeat to Real Betis in pre-season on July 29 stands out as an anomaly in their recent form. Fenerbahce remains unbeaten in European competitions this season. They secured a 2-0 home win against Sturm Graz and followed up with a 1-0 victory in Austria, before drawing 1-1 with Lyon. They have only conceded two goals across five matches while netting six. However, their domestic performance has been inconsistent. They faced a 2-1 defeat against Genclerbirligi on August 15 but rebounded with a 4-2 win over Konyaspor on August 22. Their European record consists of three wins and two draws, and they have yet to face a challenge away from home at this level this season.