Mourinho Leads Fenerbahce to Champions League Playoffs

Istanbul, Turkey, Aug 13 (AP) – Jose Mourinho is on the cusp of taking Fenerbahce back to the Champions League for the first time in 17 years. His side advanced to the Champions League qualifying playoffs after overcoming a two-goal deficit on aggregate, securing a 5-2 victory against Feyenoord, led by Robin van Persie. Fenerbahce moved forward with a 6-4 aggregate score and now faces Benfica, where Mourinho began his head coaching career 25 years ago. The prize at stake is a spot in the 36-team league phase.

The first leg takes place in Istanbul next Wednesday, with the return leg set for August 27 at the renowned Stadium of Light in Lisbon. There, Mourinho briefly served as head coach in 2000. Benfica moved on after defeating Nice 2-0 at home, maintaining their form from a first-leg win with the same score in France last week.

Fenerbahce last graced the old group stage of the Champions League in the 2008-09 season, with their fierce rivals Galatasaray already securing a spot in the August 28 main draw as the Turkish league champion. Fenerbahce had trailed 2-1 in the Netherlands last week and found themselves further behind when Feyenoord’s Tsuyoshi Watanabe scored in the 41st minute. Mourinho's squad rallied, scoring twice before halftime, with Colombia forward Jhon Durán, on loan from Al Nassr, netting the second goal. Former Manchester United midfielder Fred extended the lead early in the second half, with Talisca, another former Ronaldo teammate at Al Nassr, completing the scoring.

In other Champions League action, Rangers progressed to the playoffs with a 4-2 aggregate win against Viktoria Plzen, despite a 2-1 defeat in the Czech Republic. The Scottish club will host the first leg of the playoff against Club Brugge, who came from behind to win 3-2 over Salzburg, securing their spot with a 4-2 aggregate. Salzburg, a recent FIFA Club World Cup participant, now faces uncertainty in qualifying for future outings, missing the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons.

Pafos, the Russian-owned champion of Cyprus, defeated Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 to move forward with a 3-0 aggregate. Pafos will meet Red Star Belgrade, who advanced past Lech Poznan with a 4-2 aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Serbia. Copenhagen defeated Malmo 5-0, following a scoreless first leg, setting up a playoff with Swiss champion Basel.

Qarabag of Azerbaijan dispatched North Macedonian champions Shkendija 5-1, sealing a 6-1 aggregate win to secure a matchup with Ferencvaros, winners over Ludogorets with a 3-0 scoreline in Budapest. Meanwhile, Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan triumphed in a penalty shootout against Slovan Bratislava, with a 1-1 aggregate score leading them to face Scotland's Celtic in the playoff first leg.

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