Lyon 1-2 Fenerbahce (2-3 agg): Muriqi and Brown seal long-awaited Champions League return

Fenerbahce will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2008-09 after they earned a 2-1 second-leg win over Lyon, sealing a 3-2 play-off triumph on aggregate. 

Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown struck in four first-half minutes, and even though Malick Fofana's 61st-minute strike threatened a nervy finish, Fenerbahce were able to hold on.

Both sides had early chances, with Fofana forcing Ederson into a smart stop down to his left before Oguz Aydin tested Dominik Greif at the other end moments later. 

Aydin then saw his corner strike the crossbar as Fenerbahce began to turn the screw, and their pressure was rewarded in the 24th minute through Muriqi, who tucked home on the rebound after seeing his initial header saved by Greif. 

Fenerbahce pulled further clear four minutes later when Mason Greenwood's corner towards the back post was met by Brown's towering header over Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Lyon responded well to going behind with Tyler Morton's stinging drive bringing a sharp stop out of Ederson at the end of the first half, with Lois Openda then heading just wide in the 50th minute after more good work from Fofana. 

But the hosts pulled one back just after the hour through the lively Fofana, who brilliantly volleyed Maitland-Niles' clipped ball into the box past Ederson. 

Paulo Fonseca's side then had two goals ruled out in the space of six minutes, with Openda's glancing header dismissed for offside before Kail Boudache's curling finish was chalked off for a foul on Brown by Zachary Athekame in the build-up. 

Lyon's attempts to force extra time almost came to fruition in the 90th minute, but Boudache dragged his shot wide as Fenerbahce saw out stoppage time, with their celebrations, led by Matteo Guendouzi, sparking a confrontation between both sets of players that spilled into the tunnel.

Fenerbahce back in the big time after gritty second-leg display

Having lost nine times in qualifying since making their last appearance in the Champions League 18 years ago, Fenerbahce finally earned their seat at Europe's top table once again with a hard-fought victory against their Ligue 1 opponents. 

The Turkish giants were dumped out by Benfica at this stage last year, which prompted Jose Mourinho's dramatic exit and the arrival of Domenico Tedesco, but they were able to get the job done here and book their spot in the Champions League proper. 

Fenerbahce have also overtaken Galatasaray (121) to become the Turkish team with the most wins in Champions League history (122).

And it was Muriqi, who is at the beginning of his second spell with Fenerbahce, who helped his team to victory. He led the line impeccably, finishing with team-high totals for duels won (10), aerial duels won (four) and fouls won (four), while also getting the all-important first goal. 

Fenerbahce edged the expected goals (xG) battle with a tally of 1.59 from their 17 shots to Lyon's total of 1.23 from their 17 attempts, and they join fellow Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray in representing the nation in the Champions League. 

Ismail Kartal's side will be joined in the competition by AEK Athens, who beat Levski Sofia 4-0 on aggregate, while Norwegian outfit Viking FK dumped out Dinamo Zagreb following a 3-1 win in the second leg, which clinched a 5-3 win on aggregate. 

Slovan Bratislava needed extra time to battle past 10-man Celje, with Cristian Martinez's 100th-minute winner earning a 2-1 win in the second leg and a 3-2 triumph on aggregate for the Slovak First Football League side.