UEFA Champions League REVIEW 18 Aug 2026: Dinamo Zagreb Blow 2-0 Lead as Champions League Play-offs Open

Dinamo Zagreb led Viking 2-0 inside ten minutes of the Champions League play-off first leg at Maksimir but could not hold on, drawing 2-2. Dion Beljo put the home side ahead in the 6th minute and Mateo Lisica made it two on 10, before Viking hit back either side of the half-hour mark: Peter Christiansen pulled one back on 26 minutes and Zlatko Tripic completed the recovery on 39, level at 2-2 by half time. Neither side scored again, leaving the tie level going into the second leg in Stavanger.

In Istanbul, Fenerbahce and Lyon drew 1-1 in their own play-off first leg. Loïs Openda put Lyon ahead just before half time, on 40 minutes, and Mason Greenwood equalised for Fenerbahce shortly after the break. Greenwood only signed for the Turkish club this summer, and Eurosport's report from Istanbul described his leveller as the goal that stopped Lyon taking a first-leg win back to France, calling it "un bijou du nouveau Stambouliote Mason Greenwood" - a gem from Istanbul's new signing. Loïs Openda is on loan at Lyon from Juventus this season. The second leg is in France on 26 August.

Levski Sofia and AEK Athens played out a goalless draw in Sofia in the third play-off first leg, the Bulgarian champions unable to find a way past AEK's Greek champions in front of their own supporters. The tie is finely poised before the return leg at the Agia Sophia Stadium on 26 August.