Fenerbahçe host Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying showdown
Fenerbahçe will host Sturm Graz at the Chobani Stadium Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu in Istanbul on 5 August as the two clubs meet in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
The tie arrives with both teams arriving on the back of strong runs. Fenerbahçe have won four of their last five matches, losing none, with the sole blemish a draw. Sturm Graz, meanwhile, head into the fixture unbeaten and victorious in each of their last five outings, giving them a marginally higher recent win tally than their hosts.
A history from 2017
The clubs have met before, in the UEFA Europa League back in 2017. Fenerbahçe won the first encounter 2-1 away in Graz, before the return fixture in Istanbul ended 1-1. That earlier double-header remains the only previous meeting between the sides on record, adding a touch of familiarity to what is otherwise a fresh European qualifying tie.
What is at stake
With both sides unbeaten across their last several matches, the qualifying tie looks tightly poised on paper. Fenerbahçe will have home advantage at the Sukru Saracoglu for the opening leg, while Sturm Graz's flawless recent record suggests they will not be easy opponents to overcome in the pursuit of a place in the next round of Champions League qualifying.