Fenerbahce and AEK seal champions league returns
Fenerbahce defeated Lyon 2-1 in France on Wednesday to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
The Turkish side advanced 3-2 on aggregate after the first leg in Istanbul ended 1-1, completing a memorable return to Europe's elite club competition.
Vedat Muriqi put Fenerbahce ahead in the 24th minute after reacting quickest to his saved header, before Archie Brown doubled the lead four minutes later with a close-range header from Mason Greenwood's corner.
Lyon responded after the break and Malick Fofana pulled one back in the 61st minute. The hosts appeared to equalize three minutes later through Lois Openda, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Lyon were denied again in the 71st minute when Kail Boudache's goal was overturned after VAR determined that Zachary Athekame had fouled Brown in the buildup.
Fenerbahce survived the late pressure to claim the victory and complete their aggregate success.
The qualification also marks an important chapter in the club's European history. Fenerbahce were excluded from the Champions League for two seasons following the 2011 match-fixing investigation, despite winning the 2010-11 Turkish league title. The club and former president Aziz Yildirim were later acquitted in a retrial.
AEK storm into the league phase
AEK Athens produced an emphatic 4-0 victory over Levski Sofia to return to the Champions League after an eight-year absence.
In a dominant performance at a packed Allwyn Arena, AEK scored three times before the half-hour mark and never allowed the Bulgarian side to recover.
Luka Jovic opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a header from Lazaros Rota's cross. Barnabas Varga then made it 2-0 with a powerful volley following a headed assist from Domagoj Vida, before the Hungarian striker added his second with another header shortly before the half-hour mark.
AEK continued to control the contest and secured a fourth goal after Jovic won a penalty early in the second half. Marin converted from the spot to complete the rout.
The Greek side managed the remainder of the match comfortably, allowing Levski more possession while remaining in control until the final whistle.
The qualification is AEK's sixth appearance in Europe's top club competition and, significantly, their first in the Champions League league phase. The new format guarantees eight league-phase matches and brings a series of high-profile European fixtures.
AEK will discover their league-phase opponents at the draw in Monaco.
A night of celebration and tension
While AEK celebrated a historic European return on the pitch, police arrested six Bulgarian supporters in connection with incidents surrounding the match.
Four were arrested at the Afidnes toll station after police found and confiscated two folding knives during a search. Two others were arrested at the Elefsina toll station after a knife was found in their possession.
Both Fenerbahce and AEK now move into the Champions League league phase, bringing Turkish and Greek football back onto Europe's biggest club stage.
