Fenerbahçe 1-3 Rangers

Hosting Rangers at Ülker Stadium, Fenerbahçe could not prevent a 3-1 loss. The Scottish team secured victory with goals from Dessers in the 6th minute and Cerny in the 41st and 81st minutes. Djiku scored Fenerbahçe’s only goal in the 30th minute.

Rangers had two more goals disallowed after VAR reviews in the 51st and 58th minutes, both ruled offside.

The second leg between Fenerbahçe and Rangers will be played in Scotland on Thursday, March 13, at 23:00 Turkish time.

Match Highlights

1′ – The match kicks off.
GOAL | 6′ – Dessers receives the ball inside Fenerbahçe’s penalty area, dribbles past goalkeeper İrfan Can, and slots it into the empty net. Çağlar Söyüncü attempts a goal-line clearance, but the referee confirms the goal via his watch notification. Rangers lead 1-0.
11′ – Dessers crosses the ball from the right; Diomande jumps for a header but cannot reach it.
16′ – Injured Çağlar Söyüncü is replaced by Djiku.
18′ – Amrabat’s cross from the right finds En-Nesyri, but his header lands on the top netting.
19′ – Kostić delivers a low cross from the left, En-Nesyri shoots with his left foot, but the ball goes over the bar.
21′ – Jefte shoots from a tight angle inside the box, but it hits the side netting.
23′ – En-Nesyri controls a cross with his chest and lays it off for Džeko, whose shot is saved by Butland.
28′ – Rangers’ Pröpper gets injured and is replaced by Balogun.
GOAL | 30′ – Szymański’s corner finds Djiku at the far post, who strikes it into the net. Fenerbahçe equalizes: 1-1.
GOAL | 41′ – Cerny plays a one-two with Dessers, enters the box, and curls the ball into the far corner. Rangers regain the lead: 2-1.
45′ – A minimum of 6 minutes of added time is announced.
45+1′ – Raskin’s shot from a tight angle hits the side netting.

Halftime: Rangers 2-1 Fenerbahçe.

Second Half

46′ – The second half begins. Anderson Talisca replaces Yusuf Akçiçek.
VAR | 51′ – Rangers score, but VAR rules it offside.
54′ – Fenerbahçe substitutes Szymański for Allan Saint-Maximin.
54′ – Rangers’ Souttar fouls Džeko and receives a yellow card.
VAR | 58′ – Another Rangers goal by Dessers is disallowed for offside.
66′ – Maximin’s cross finds En-Nesyri, but his header narrowly misses.
67′ – Talisca fouls an opponent and is booked.
70′ – Talisca unleashes a powerful shot from 26-27 meters, but it goes just wide.
71′ – En-Nesyri receives the ball with his back to goal, turns, and shoots weakly—Butland collects easily.
74′ – Tadić’s cross finds Talisca, who heads it goalward, but Butland makes the save.
76′ – Rangers make substitutions: Diomande and Rıdvan exit, Ianis Hagi and Sterling enter.
79′ – Fenerbahçe substitutes Mert Müldür for İrfan Can Kahveci.
GOAL | 81′ – A long ball behind Fenerbahçe’s defense finds Cerny, who beats the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
88′ – Rangers make their final changes: Dessers and Cerny off, Igamane and Lawrence on.
90′ – Six minutes of added time.
90+1′ – Džeko sets up Talisca for a shot at the edge of the box, but Butland saves.

Final Score: Rangers 3-1 Fenerbahçe.

Match Details

Venue: Ülker Stadium
Referees: Alejandro Hernandez, Jose Naranjo, Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (Spain)

Fenerbahçe XI: İrfan Can Eğribayat, Çağlar Söyüncü (16′ Djiku), Skriniar, Yusuf Akçiçek (46′ Talisca), Mert Müldür (79′ İrfan Can Kahveci), Amrabat, Szymański (54′ Saint-Maximin), Kostić, Tadić, Džeko, En-Nesyri

Rangers XI: Butland, Pröpper (29′ Balogun), Souttar, Tavernier, Rıdvan Yılmaz (76′ Sterling), Jefte, Raskin, Barron, Cerny (88′ Lawrence), Diomande (76′ Hagi), Dessers (88′ Igamane)

Goals:

• Rangers: 6′ Dessers, 41′ & 81′ Cerny
• Fenerbahçe: 30′ Djiku

Yellow Cards:

• Rangers: 55′ Souttar
• Fenerbahçe: 67′ Talisca

Match Notes

• Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinho made two forced changes from the Antalyaspor match due to Fred Rodrigues’ suspension and Oğuz Aydın being ineligible for the UEFA squad. Yusuf Akçiçek and Sofyan Amrabat started in their places.
• Mourinho opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation, with İrfan Can Eğribayat in goal, a back three of Çağlar Söyüncü, Milan Skriniar, and Yusuf Akçiçek, and wingbacks Mert Müldür and Filip Kostić. Amrabat and Szymański played in midfield, Tadić operated freely, while Džeko and En-Nesyri led the attack.
• Fred Rodrigues, Bright Osayi-Samuel (suspensions), and İsmail Yüksek (injury) were unavailable for selection.
• Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak and Turkey national team coach Vincenzo Montella watched the game from the stands.
• Fenerbahçe fans packed the stadium, providing strong support despite the loss.
• Security measures were heightened around the stadium before and during the match.

Fenerbahçe now faces a tough challenge in the return leg, needing at least a two-goal victory in Scotland to keep their UEFA Europa League hopes alive.