Champions League third qualifying round gets underway as Fenerbahçe prepare for Sturm Graz
03.08.2026 - 10:48 | Last Updated:
The first-leg matches of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round begin on Tuesday, with Fenerbahçe set to host Austrian side Sturm Graz on Wednesday in their bid to move a step closer to the league phase.
Europe's premier club competition resumes with the third qualifying round, as clubs across the continent compete for a place in the play-offs. Fenerbahçe will welcome Sturm Graz to İstanbul on Wednesday.
The Turkish side reached the third qualifying round after eliminating Poland's Górnik Zabrze with a 2-1 aggregate victory, while Sturm Graz advanced by overcoming Scottish club Hearts.
The second-leg matches of the third qualifying round are scheduled to be played on August 11, with the winners progressing to the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
Elsewhere, the opening round of fixtures features several high-profile encounters, including Olympiakos against NEC Nijmegen, Sparta Prague hosting Olympique Lyon, and Union Saint-Gilloise taking on Bodø/Glimt.
Other first-leg ties include Dinamo Zagreb versus Kauno Žalgiris, Levski Sofia against Kairat, Hapoel Be'er Sheva facing Red Star Belgrade, Mjällby meeting Slovan Bratislava, Ararat-Armenia taking on Celje, and Aarhus hosting Sabah.
