Fenerbahçe walk tightrope in Champions League clash with Feyenoord

With their Champions League aspirations hanging by a thread, Fenerbahçe prepare to host Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord in a pivotal third-round qualifying tie that could define the club’s European fate and intensify the spotlight on head coach Jose Mourinho, Daily Sabah reported.

The first leg kicks off Wednesday night at the iconic De Kuip in Rotterdam, while the return leg is set for Aug. 12 at the Chobani Stadium in Istanbul.

The winner of this two-legged clash will face either Club Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg in the playoff round for a place in the Champions League league phase, an elusive stage Fenerbahçe hasn’t reached in over a decade.

This tie pits two sides rich in continental pedigree but desperate to restore their standing among Europe’s elite.