Lyon crashes out: Fenerbahce, AEK, and Viking secure CL tickets

The final tickets for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase have been allocated.

In Wednesday's playoff second legs, Fenerbahce Istanbul, AEK Athens, and Viking Stavanger prevailed, securing their places in the Champions League. The respective losers will have to settle for the Europa League league phase.

Lyon misses return to Champions League

The evening ended particularly bitterly for Olympique Lyon. The French side lost 1-2 to Fenerbahce Istanbul, missing out on a return to the Champions League after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Austrian centre-back Felix Bacher watched his club's elimination from the bench for the entire match.

Lyon initially got off to a better start. Malick Fofana forced a save from Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ederson in the eighth minute, and shortly after, Abner squandered another good opportunity (16').

However, Fenerbahce gradually took control thereafter. Vedat Muriqi put the Turkish side ahead in the 24th minute. Just four minutes later, Fenerbahce extended their lead: Archie Brown headed in from a corner to make it 2-0.

After the break, Lyon increased the pressure and Fofana pulled a goal back in the 61st minute. The hosts then sniffed at an equaliser, but Fenerbahce held on to their narrow lead.

This ends Fenerbahce's long dry spell. The Turkish club last featured in the Champions League league phase in 2008/09 and had since failed nine times in qualification.

AEK makes short work of it

AEK Athens secured their ticket for the league phase much more convincingly. After a goalless first leg against Levski Sofia, the Greeks left nothing to chance in the return match, winning 4-0.

Luka Jovic set the course for victory as early as the eighth minute. The former Real Madrid striker headed a cross from Lazaros Rota into the net. Just four minutes later, Barnabas Varga made it 2-0. Sofia's defence looked completely overwhelmed, a situation the striker ruthlessly exploited.

Before the break, Varga delivered the decisive blow. The former Mattersburg player completed his brace with a header from a corner (29').

After the change of ends, Razvan Marin definitively sealed the deal from the penalty spot (55'). AEK will thus participate in the Champions League league phase for the first time since 2018/19.

Viking turns the tie against Zagreb

Viking Stavanger also made the leap into the Champions League for the first time. The Norwegians turned the tie around against Dinamo Zagreb after a 2-2 draw in the first leg, winning 3-1 at home.

Zagreb got off to the better start. Luka Stojkovic narrowly missed early on (5') and then was denied by Viking goalkeeper Arild Östbö shortly after (9'). In the tenth minute, the deserved lead finally came: Arber Hoxha headed in from a deflected Stojkovic cross to make it 1-0.

Viking somewhat fortunately equalized. After a long throw-in, Dinamo's Scot McKenna handled the ball. Captain Zlatko Tripic coolly converted the resulting penalty down the middle in the 18th minute.

After the break, Viking turned the game around within minutes. Edvin Austbö smashed the ball impossibly into the net from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 (48'), before Tobias Moi extended the lead to 3-1 just two minutes later.

Zagreb then rallied once more but squandered several good chances. Former Rapid striker Dion Beljo missed the biggest opportunity in the 77th minute.

Viking held on to their lead, securing a spot in the Champions League league phase for the first time in the club's history. Dinamo Zagreb, on the other hand, will have to settle for the Europa League.