Feyenoord to Face Fenerbahce in UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round

Feyenoord's UEFA Champions League journey continues with a match against Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round. Will they advance to face Benfica or Nice?

If they fail to overcome the Turkish giants, they'll directly qualify for the UEFA Europa League's league phase...

Feyenoord's UEFA Champions League journey continues with a potential showdown against SL Benfica or OGC Nice in the last play-off round, following Monday's draw in Nyon. However, before they can face these European giants, they'll first take on Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round.

Feyenoord, led by coach Robin van Persie, a former Fenerbahce star, will look to leverage their aggressive style and swift midfield transitions to overcome the Turkish side. A win would propel them to the play-off round against either Benfica or Nice, with the winner earning a spot in the lucrative Champions League group stages.

Play-off round draw set ✅

⚽️ Match dates: 19/20 and 26/27 August#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/JtoL95M0KL

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 4, 2025

Feyenoord's UEFA Champions League journey hangs in the balance as they prepare to face Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round. If they fail to overcome the Turkish giants, they'll directly qualify for the UEFA Europa League's league phase. However, if they succeed, they'll move on to face either Benfica or OGC Nice in the play-off round.

Previous Encounter: Feyenoord vs Benfica

Feyenoord has a winning history against Benfica, having beaten them 3-1 in their last encounter during the UEFA Champions League League Phase last year. The match took place at Benfica's home ground, Estadio da Luz, on October 23, 2024. Ayase Ueda opened the scoring for Feyenoord in the 12th minute, while Antoni Milambo doubled the lead in the 33rd minute and sealed the win with a goal in the 90th+2 minute. Kerem Akturkoglu scored a consolation goal for Benfica in the 66th minute.

Upcoming Matches

Feyenoord vs Fenerbahce:

• First Leg: August 6, 2025, at Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam
• Second Leg: August 12, 2025, at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul
• Potential Playoff Opponents: Benfica or OGC Nice

Let's see how Feyenoord performs against Fenerbahce and potentially advances to face Benfica or Nice.

Fenerbahçe and Benfica have a history of competition, including a recent pre-season match where Benfica won 3-2. The two teams also faced each other in the 2018 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, with Benfica emerging victorious and advancing to the next round with a 2-1 aggregate score. This past encounter showcases Benfica's dominance over Fenerbahçe in their head-to-head matches.

First minutes in de Kuip, first goal²

🇲🇱 Gaoussou Diarra, 4-0 Feyenoord! pic.twitter.com/Pg62iBdEe8

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) August 2, 2025

Feyenoord and OGC Nice have never faced each other in an official match, but their paths crossed earlier this summer in a pre-season friendly held in Austria, where Feyenoord suffered a 2-1 defeat. Anis Hadj Moussa scored the only goal for Feyenoord in that match, which took place on July 26, 2025. This friendly match provided both teams with valuable insights into each other's strengths and weaknesses, potentially setting the stage for a more intense encounter in the Champions League play-offs if Feyenoord advances past Fenerbahce.

Potential Champions League Playoff Matchup

1. Feyenoord's Current Opponent: Fenerbahce (third qualifying round)
2. Potential Playoff Opponents: SL Benfica or OGC Nice
3. First Leg: Feyenoord vs Fenerbahce on August 6, 2025, in Rotterdam
4. Second Leg: Fenerbahce vs Feyenoord on August 12, 2025, in Istanbul

Fenerbahçe and Nice last faced each other in the 1959-60 season, with each team winning 2-1 on their home turf. However, Nice ultimately knocked Fenerbahçe out with a 5-1 win. Fast forward to the present, Nice is set to meet Benfica in the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase, and the winner will face either Feyenoord or Fenerbahçe in the play-off round. The play-off matches are scheduled for August 19/20 and 26/27.

Upcoming Matches:

Nice vs Benfica:

• First Leg: August, with Nice hosting
• Second Leg: likely in late August, with Benfica hosting

Play-off Round:

• First Leg: August 19 or 20
• Second Leg: August 26 or 27

It's worth noting that Fenerbahçe has had a busy pre-season, with recent friendly matches against teams like Lazio and Benfica, while Nice has been preparing for their Champions League qualifier against Benfica.