--- title: "Fenerbahce knock out Lyon, Viking reach the Champions League for the first time in history: UEFA Champions League 2026/27 qualification playoff round recap" description: "In the Champions League playoff second legs, Fenerbahce knocked out Lyon (3:2 on aggregate), Norway's Viking reached the main stage for the first time in history, and AEK thrashed Levski 4:0. Ukrainian footballers Zubkov and Ignatenko kept their chance to play in the Champions League." date: 2026-08-26T21:38:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/fenerbahce-knockout-lion-viking-champions-league-playoff-round-2026-27 tags: [champions-league, fenerbahce, lyon, viking, dinamo-zagreb, aek, levski, slovan, celje, ucl-qualifying, ukrainian-footballers, zubkov, ignatenko] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Fenerbahce knock out Lyon, Viking reach the Champions League for the first time in history: UEFA Champions League 2026/27 qualification playoff round recap ![Lyon coach and player in Olympique Lyonnais kit after elimination from the 2026/27 Champions League qualifiers](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/27/fenerbahche-vybil-lion-viking-vpervye-v-lige-chempionov-itogi-play-off/fenerbahche-vybil-lion-viking-vpervye-v-lige-chempionov-itogi-play-off-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Fenerbahce beat Lyon 3:2 on aggregate over two legs and advanced to the main stage of the Champions League; the French club will continue in the Europa League - Norway's Viking defeated Dinamo Zagreb 3:1 and reached the main stage of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history - AEK thrashed Levski 4:0, while Slovan beat Celje in extra time (Martinez goal in the 100th minute) - Ukrainian footballers Oleksandr Zubkov (AEK) and Daniil Ignatenko (Slovan) earned the chance to compete in the Champions League On Wednesday, 26 August 2026, the second legs of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 qualification playoff round saw several major events. Turkish side Fenerbahce beat French club Lyon 2:1 away from home and advanced to the main stage of Europe's premier club competition on aggregate (3:2). For Lyon, this defeat means elimination from the Champions League and a continuation of their European campaign in the Europa League. At the same time, Norwegian side Viking sensationally defeated Dinamo Zagreb (3:1) and reached the main stage of the Champions League for the first time in their long history, while Greece's AEK thrashed Levski Sofia 4:0, sealing their passage without much trouble after a goalless first leg. ### Fenerbahce sends Lyon to the Europa League The second leg between Lyon and Fenerbahce was played in France, with the tie level at 1:1 after the first match. The Turkish club, led by manager Fonseca, managed to turn the game around on the road and won 2:1. As a result, Fenerbahce prevailed 3:2 on aggregate over the two legs and earned a ticket to the main stage of the Champions League. For the French club, which in recent years had consistently been a contender for a place in UEFA's top tournament, this result was a serious blow: Lyon will continue their campaign in the Europa League, and their fans were left without the chance to see their team in the continent's premier club competition. In the photo, capturing a moment after the match, representatives of Lyon can be seen wearing the club's signature kit with the Olympique Lyonnais badge. ### Viking reach the Champions League for the first time in history The main sensation of the qualification playoff round was the victory of Norwegian side Viking over Dinamo Zagreb. After a goal-fest 2:2 draw in the first leg in Croatia, the Norwegians closed out the tie at home, winning 3:1. The goals in the second leg were scored by: Tripic from a penalty (18th minute), Austbo (48th minute) and Moi (50th minute) for Viking; for Dinamo, Honza scored (10th minute). This result was historic for the Norwegian club: Viking reached the main stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history, becoming one of the main heroes of the 2026/27 qualification round. ### AEK and Slovan secure their places in the main stage Greece's AEK left no chance for Levski Sofia at home, thrashing them 4:0. After a goalless draw in the first leg in Bulgaria, the Greek team fully controlled the second leg and confidently sealed their passage to the main stage of the Champions League. In parallel, Slovakia's Slovan played their second leg against Slovenia's Celje. Yaya Toure's team, missing the injured Nikolai Kucharevich, failed to solve the task in normal time — the match ended 1:1. However, in extra time, on the 100th minute, Christian Martinez scored the decisive goal, sending Slovan into the Champions League. Celje, accordingly, dropped into the Europa League. It is worth noting that on the 106th minute, Daniil Ignatenko came on as a substitute for Martinez, the scorer of the winning goal. ### Ukrainian footballers in Europe's premier tournament Among the qualified teams there are representatives of the Ukrainian football contingent. AEK features Ukrainian winger Oleksandr Zubkov, who has earned the chance to play in the main stage of the Champions League. In the second leg against Levski, Zubkov came on as a substitute in the 81st minute; he did not register any goal contributions, but his participation in the tournament is now guaranteed. Slovan also lists Ukrainian midfielder Daniil Ignatenko, who made his debut in extra time against Celje. The third Ukrainian footballer linked to this round is Nikolai Kucharevich, who, due to injury, was unable to help Slovan in the second leg, although his team still advanced to the Champions League. Thus, all three Ukrainian players have kept or gained the chance to compete in Europe's premier club competition in the 2026/27 season. ### Context: who else reached the main stage The day before, on 25 August, Tuesday's matches also determined three participants in the main stage of the Champions League, and those encounters, according to sources, featured sensational outcomes. Taken together with Wednesday's results, the picture of the 2026/27 qualification round looks extremely unpredictable: big clubs with a rich European pedigree are losing to teams from less decorated leagues, while Norway's Viking and Slovakia's Slovan continue to write their own chapters in Champions League history. The main stage of the tournament, in which Fenerbahce, Viking, AEK and Slovan will now compete, kicks off in the coming weeks. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zubkov, Ignatenko and Kucharevich to play in the CL; Lyon with Fonseca lose to Fenerbahce](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/zubkov-ignatenko-ta-kuharevich-zigrayut-lch-1787780042.html) - Подтверждает результаты всех четырёх пар, участие украинских футболистов, тренера Фонсеку у «Лиона», гол Мартинеса на 100-й минуте, замену Игнатенко на 106-й минуте, травму Кухаревича. - [Champions League, video reviews of the playoff round matches, 26 August 2026: Lyon — Fenerbahce, Bodø/Glimt ...](https://sport.rambler.ru/football/56968448-liga-chempionov-videoobzory-igr-raunda-pley-off-26-avgusta-2026-goda-lion-fenerbahche-bude-glimt-nek-sabah-hapoel-i-dr/) - Подтверждает дату матчей (26.08.2026) и перечень пар плей-офф квалификации. - [Lyon lose to Fenerbahce and fail to reach the league phase of the Champions League](https://www.sport-express.ru/football/champions-league/news/lion-fenerbahche-schet-i-rezultat-otvetnogo-matcha-pley-off-otbora-ligi-chempionov-26-avgusta-2026-2450236/) - Подтверждает счёт 2:1 в ответном матче, вылет «Лиона» из ЛЧ и переход в Лигу Европы. - [Lyon — Fenerbahce: video review of the Champions League match](https://www.sport-express.ru/football/champions-league/news/lion-fenerbahche-videoobzor-matcha-kvalifikacii-ligi-chempionov-i-luchshie-momenty-igry-26-avgusta-2026-goda-2450259/) - Подтверждает счёт 2:1 в ответном матче, вылет «Лиона» из ЛЧ и переход в Лигу Европы. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What was the score in the second leg between Lyon and Fenerbahce? **A:** Fenerbahce won away 2:1. On aggregate over the two legs (the first match ended 1:1), the Turkish club prevailed 3:2 and advanced to the main stage of the Champions League. ### Q: Is this Viking's first time playing in the main stage of the Champions League? **A:** Yes. After beating Dinamo Zagreb (3:1 at home, 2:2 away), Norway's Viking reached the main stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history. ### Q: Which Ukrainian footballers kept their chance to play in the Champions League? **A:** Oleksandr Zubkov (AEK, came on in the 81st minute against Levski) and Daniil Ignatenko (Slovan, came on in the 106th minute in extra time against Celje). Nikolai Kucharevich did not play due to injury, but his Slovan also qualified. ### Q: Who scored the decisive goal in the Slovan vs Celje match? **A:** The decisive goal in the 100th minute of extra time was scored by Christian Martinez. Normal time ended 1:1. ### Q: Where will Lyon continue their European campaign? **A:** After being eliminated from the Champions League, Lyon will continue their campaign in the Europa League for the 2026/27 season.