Lyon attempted to mount a comeback in the second half when Belgian winger Malick Fofana scored to narrow the deficit. Despite intense pressure from the hosts, Fenerbahce remained resilient. Lyon saw two further efforts from Lois Openda and Kail Boudache disallowed for offside, allowing the visitors to hold firm and seal their progression.
AEK Athens and Viking Advance
Elsewhere, AEK Athens comfortably moved into the league phase after a dominant 4-0 victory over Levski Sofia. Following a goalless draw in the first leg in Bulgaria, the Greek side took control at home through a brace from Hungarian striker Barnabas Varga and a goal from former Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic. Razvan Marin rounded off the scoring with a successful penalty to ensure a comprehensive win.
In Norway,
Slovan Bratislava Qualify in Extra Time
Slovan Bratislava also confirmed their spot in the league phase after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate win against Celje. Andraz Sporar initially put the Slovakian side ahead, but Svit Seslar levelled the scores from the penalty spot for the Slovenian hosts. With the tie finely balanced, Cristian Martinez emerged as the hero for Slovan, netting the decisive goal in extra time to send his team through to the group stage for the second time in three seasons.
