Watch goals as Van Persie defeats Mourinho

Two-time Champions League winner Jose Mourinho is going through one other third qualifying spherical exit within the competitors after dropping to a 91st-minute objective on the identical stage for the second successive season.

Former Manchester United mortgage signing Sofyan Amrabat regarded to have earned Mourinho’s Fenerbahce a 1-1 draw at Feyenoord with an emphatic 86th-minute strike, just for Anis Hadj-Moussa’s deft added-time header to provide Robin van Persie’s group victory.

In Mourinho’s first marketing campaign in cost in 2024/25, the Turkish membership equalised late however misplaced 2-1 at Lille within the 91st minute of the primary leg earlier than going out 3-2 on mixture after additional time of their house recreation, though they reached the Europa League final 16.

Feyenoord vs Fenerbahce: Champions League drama

Feyenoord had an early penalty overturned following a Video Assistant Referee evaluation earlier than Netherlands midfielder Quinten Timber opened the scoring within the nineteenth minute at De Kuip, spinning contained in the penalty space for a shot that deflected in through visiting defender Mert Muldur.

Irfan Can Kahveci had a header dominated out for offside for Fenerbache within the forty first minute, with the return leg in Istanbul on Tuesday (20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).

Mourinho had described the tie as “50-50” and “a good challenge” beforehand. “The gap between the two matches is less than a week, so I see the chances as even,” added the Portuguese.

“I don’t see us as the favourites, but I also don’t see them as better than us.”

Mourinho praises Van Perside

Two-time Premier League high scorer Van Persie had two spells with Feyenoord both aspect of eight years with Arsenal, three with Manchester United and three with Fenerbahce, though the 2012/13 English champion with United was by no means managed by Mourinho.

“Robin was a fantastic striker,” stated Mourinho. “We spent many years in the Premier League. I know him better than most people.”

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Now 42, Van Persie began his managerial profession at Heerenveen initially of final season and joined Feyenoord in February, the place his assistants embrace Rene Hake, who was briefly an assistant to Erik ten Hag earlier than the Dutchman was sacked by United final October.

“He’s a young, new-generation manager,” Mourinho stated of the previous Netherlands worldwide. “Now veteran gamers wish to grow to be managers and are making ready for that.

“Robin… is at a big club and here to show his potential. I hope he succeeds. I wish him success for the rest of the season.”

Champions League third qualifying spherical outcomes

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Club Brugge scored the one objective of their first leg at Salzburg via Romeo Vermant’s 74th-minute strike.

Dastan Satpaev, who will be part of Chelsea in 2026, transformed a Ninetieth-minute penalty as Kairat gained 1-0 at house to 10-player Slovan Bratislava, whereas Ludogorets drew 0-0 at house to Ferencvaros.

Crvena zvezda secured the biggest win of the evening, beating Lech Poznan 3-1 away via two objectives from Rade Krunic and one other by Bruno Duarte, Mikael Ishak drawing the Polish aspect stage for quarter-hour.

Benfica are on target to fulfill Feyenoord or Fenerbahce within the play-offs – the ultimate two-legged tie to qualify for the league part – after profitable 2-0 at Nice via second-half objectives by Franjo Ivanovic and Florentino Luis.

When are the Champions League play-offs?

The first legs of the play-offs happen on August 19 and 20, with the return matches per week later.

Feyenoord or Fenerbahce will probably be at house to Nice or Benfica on August 20, with the second leg on August 27 (each video games 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).

When is the Champions League league part draw?

The draw will happen on Thursday, August 28 – a day after the play-off ties come to a near resolve the final groups to qualify.

Timings for the draw have been but to be confirmed initially of August.

Champions League format

In a change from the earlier group stage format performed till 2023/24, every group now performs eight matches within the league part, all towards totally different opponents.

Four of these matches will probably be at house and 4 away, with the opponents decided based on 4 seeding pots cut up by rankings.

Teams will play two opponents from every of these pots – one towards a group from every pot at house and one away. The outcomes resolve the general standings in a single league.

The high eight sides within the desk qualify mechanically for the spherical of 16. The groups ending in ninth to twenty fourth will compete in a two-legged knockout part play-off to achieve the final 16.

Teams ending twenty fifth or decrease are out of Europe for the season.

Champions League schedule, fixtures 2025/26

The new league part runs till the tip of January, with the play-offs in February and the remainder of the knockout stage earlier than the ultimate happening between March and early May.

Matchday 1: September 16-18 2025
Matchday 2: September 30 – October 1 2025
Matchday 3: October 21/22 2025
Matchday 4: November 4/5 2025
Matchday 5: November 25/26 2025
Matchday 6: December 9/10 2025
Matchday 7: January 20/21 2026
Matchday 8: January 28 2026

When is the Champions League knockout part?

Knockout part play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25 2026
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 2026
Final: May 30 2026 (Budapest)

When are the Champions League attracts?

Third qualifying spherical: July 21 2025
Play-offs: August 4 2025
League part: August 28 2025
Knockout part play-offs: January 30 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and ultimate: February 27 2026

When is the Champions League ultimate?

The ultimate will happen on May 30 2026 on the the Puskas Arena in Budapest, which opened in 2019 and is house to Hungary’s nationwide group.

The area hosted a dramatic 2022/23 Europa League ultimate, when Sevilla beat Mourinho’s Roma on penalties following a 1-1 draw after additional time.