{
  "id": 3621725,
  "title": "Fenerbahce stun Lyon in Champions League as AEK crush Levski",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/fenerbahce-stun-lyon-in-champions-league-as-aek-crush-levski",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T00:02:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/08/1519558/fenerbahce-stun-lyon-champions-league-aek-crush-levski"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Turkish side Fenerbahce left Lyon stunned in the Champions League on Wednesday, securing a 2-0 victory to advance to the league phase. The Turkish champions took the lead at the beginning of the match, which mirrored the 1-1 score from the first leg in Istanbul a week earlier. Exciting Belgian winger Malick Fofana provided Lyon with a glimmer of hope, but two offside decisions denied Lois Openda and Kail Boudache the chance to score. AEK Athens also claimed their place in the league phase with a dominant 4-0 win over Levski Sofia, following a 0-0 draw in the Bulgarian leg. The Greeks secured their progression with a penalty by Razvan Marin. Norwegian Viking Stavanger overcame a goal deficit to beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-1, achieving a 5-3 aggregate victory. The team will compete in the Champions League group phase for the first time. Albanian Arber Hoxha gave Dinamo an early 1-0 lead, but Zlatko Tripic equalized with a penalty in the eighth minute. Two goals in two minutes early in the second half, scored by Edvin Austbo and Tobias Moi, sealed Viking's progression. Panama's Cristian Martinez scored a crucial extra-time winner, securing Slovan Bratislava's place in the Champions League group phase for the second time in three seasons. Slovakians Andraz Sporar and Svit Seslar exchanged early goals, with Martinez sealing the 3-2 aggregate success.",
  "summary": "PARIS: Goals from Vedat Muriqi and English defender Archie Brown helped Fenerbahce stun Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday and qualify for the league phase.",
  "key_points": [
    "Fenerbahce defeats Lyon 2-0, advancing to Champions League phase",
    "AEK Athens wins 4-0 against Levski Sofia, securing place in league phase",
    "Stavanger Stavanger beats Dinamo Zagreb 3-1, achieving 5-3 aggregate"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Fenerbahce's win and AEK Athens' dominant victory mark a significant shift in the Champions League landscape, as they secure their places in the league phase alongside Viking Stavanger and Slovan Bratislava.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}