Football

Fenerbahçe content with single goal in win over Górnik Zabrze

In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round...

Ahmed Hassan

July 21, 2026 • Updated: July 21, 2026

İSTANBUL

İstanbul / Ahmed Hassan / Anatolia

Fenerbahçe began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Polish visitors Górnik Zabrze on Tuesday at Çubuklu Stadium, in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

As a result, the ticket to the third qualifying round will be decided in the return leg, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at Arena Zabrze in Poland, where Fenerbahçe need a win or draw of any score to qualify.

Fenerbahçe started strongly and managed to impose their control on the match, creating numerous dangerous chances against the Polish side's goal, but all attempts were repelled by a stubborn, compact defense.

The Turkish side translated their dominance in the 37th minute with the opening goal scored by Brazilian Anderson Talisca, a precise left-footed strike from a direct free kick that nestled into the bottom left corner, ending the first half at 1-0.

In the second half, Talisca almost added a second goal in the 54th minute when he rose high to meet a corner kick cross from Kerem Aktürkoğlu and directed a powerful header on goal, but Górnik Zabrze goalkeeper Filip Schulze made a fine save.

Two minutes later, the same player met another cross from Lift Mercan with a precise header from the center of the penalty area towards the bottom right corner, but the goalkeeper and then the post denied him.

Fenerbahçe continued their intense attacking efforts, and Bartuğ Elmaz unleashed a rocket right-footed shot from outside the area that hit the crossbar in the 63rd minute, denying the Turkish team a chance to extend their lead.

The final minutes saw no change in the scoreline despite Fenerbahçe coach İsmail Kartal's attempts to boost the attack by bringing on Spanish player Marco Asensio, Oz Aydın, new English signing Mason Greenwood, and French player Sadiq Sharif.