A busy midweek of European football qualifiers and group-stage battles awaits, with several intriguing storylines spanning the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
In Istanbul, Fenerbahce host Lyon on Tuesday in a Champions League qualifying tie that carries significant weight for both clubs. New signing Romelu Lukaku, who arrived at the Turkish giants after a stint in Serie A, is expected to miss the fixture through injury, having already sat out Saturday's 2-1 league defeat to Genclerbirligi—a club his father once represented in the 1990s. Lukaku, who spent part of his childhood in Turkey, recently described the country as feeling like a second home to him. Fenerbahce's ambitious rebuild under Ismail Kartal, now in his fourth spell as head coach, has also seen the additions of Mason Greenwood and Nathan Aké to a roster already boasting Ederson, N'Golo Kanté and Marco Asensio. For Lyon, the tie represents a chance to return to Champions League football for the first time since their run to the semi-finals in 2019-20.
Celtic, meanwhile, take on Austrian champions LASK on Wednesday knowing all too well the dangers lurking in this stage of qualification. Brendan Rodgers' side were eliminated by Kairat Almaty on penalties last season after two scoreless draws, while both Rangers and Hearts suffered painful exits this summer. Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, who endured his own playoff heartbreak against Basel 24 years ago, emphasized the stakes involved, saying such matches carry weight