Fenerbahçe's financial struggles continue to plague the team, with a reported debt of between 430 and 460 million euros. The club also received a 7 million euro fine from UEFA last month for breaching financial regulations. The team's annual wage bill has increased to around 170 million euros, a significant jump due to the arrival of players like Romelu Lukaku, Nathan Aké, and Mason Greenwood. In comparison, Lyon's annual wage bill is around 55 million euros.
Fenerbahçe's play-off woes are well-documented, with the team failing to win against Spartak Moskou (2012/13), Arsenal (2013/14), and Benfica (2025/26) in the past. This trend continued against Lyon, with the team unable to secure a win despite a strong performance. Lukaku, who made his debut for the team, expressed his disappointment at the result but praised the team's fans for their support.