Champions League play-off: Fenerbahçe is the opponent

Fenerbahçe, runners-up in Turkey, have faced Benfica six times in official competitions. The Eagles won three games and drew one.

The most emblematic of Benfica's three victories dates back to 2012/13, more specifically to May 2, 2013. After losing 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final, Benfica hosted the Istanbul side, knowing they had to win by more than one goal. In what is considered one of the most iconic games at the new Estádio da Luz, with a truly hellish atmosphere, the Eagles won 3-1, with two goals from Óscar Cardozo and one from Nico Gaitán, and qualified for the Europa League final, 23 years after their last appearance in a final of a UEFA competition.

The two teams had met before and crossed paths again later. The first duel between the two clubs took place in the first round of the 1975/76 European Cup, with Benfica winning the first leg 7-0 and losing the second leg 1-0, thus advancing in the competition.

The last two clashes were in 2018, in the third qualifying round for the Champions League group stage. At Luz, in the first leg, the Eagles won 1-0, with a goal from Franco Cervi, and qualification for the next round was sealed at the Sükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, thanks to a 1-1 draw in the second leg. Gedson Fernandes scored the goal for Benfica.

In addition to its official matches, Benfica won both friendly matches against Fenerbahçe. The first match took place in 1962 in Istanbul, with a score of 1-3, while the second was at Estádio da Luz on July 26 this year, in the 13th edition of the Eusébio Cup, by 3-2.

Fenerbahçe reaches the play-off for the Champions League league phase after eliminating Dutch side Feyenoord. In the first leg in Rotterdam, the Dutch won 2-1, while in the second leg in Istanbul, Turkey, José Mourinho's side triumphed 5-2.