Goalkeepers Egribayat and Trubin impressed as Fenerbahce and Benfica drew goalless. Florentino’s red card complicates Benfica’s chances ahead of the return leg in Lisbon
New Delhi
The opening legs of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League play-offs delivered drama across Europe, with Benfica holding Fenerbahce to a 0-0 draw in Istanbul and Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt storming to a 5-0 home win over Sturm Graz.
In Turkey, goalkeepers Irfan Can Egribayat and Anatoliy Trubin impressed as both Fenerbahce and Benfica created chances but failed to score. Benfica’s task grew harder when Florentino was sent off after a second yellow card in the 70th minute, ruling him out of the decisive return leg in Lisbon.
Bodo/Glimt, meanwhile, produced a commanding performance to edge closer to their first-ever Champions League group stage. Kasper Hogh’s early chip opened the scoring before Odin Bjørtuft’s header and Ulrik Saltnes’ fine finish made it 3-0 inside 25 minutes. After halftime, Håkon Evjen added a fourth and a William Boving own goal sealed a 5-0 victory. The Norwegian side have now won eight consecutive home qualifying matches.
Elsewhere, Scottish champions Celtic were held 0-0 at home by Kairat Almaty. James Forrest struck the post early in the second half, while Edmilson nearly snatched victory for the visitors with a long-range lob that narrowly missed. The tie remains open ahead of the return leg in Kazakhstan.
In Switzerland, FC Basel and Copenhagen drew 1-1. Xherdan Shaqiri’s penalty put Basel ahead, but Gabriel Pereira equalised just before halftime. Basel’s Jonas Adjetey was later sent off, leaving the second leg finely balanced.
