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Feyenoord drawn against Fenerbahce in Champions League qualifiers

Updated
Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie does a lap around De Kuip during the Feyenoord Festival
Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie does a lap around De Kuip during the Feyenoord FestivalČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Box to Box Pictures/Danny de Groot
Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie will return to Istanbul to meet his former club Fenerbahce after the two sides were drawn against each other during Monday's UEFA Champions League draw for the third qualifying round.

Feyenoord and Fenerbahce have met each other before just twice in official games, both times during the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League. The Turkish giants won both games 1-0 thanks to goals from Emmanuel Emenike and Moussa Sow.

The meeting between the two sides means Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie will return to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for the first time since leaving Fenerbahce in 2018. After leaving Manchester United in 2015, the Premier League icon played two-and-a-half seasons in Istanbul, during which he scored 36 goals in 87 games for Fenerbahce.

Fenerbahce's Robin van Persie celebrates scoring a goal in the derby against Galatasaray on November 20th, 2016
Fenerbahce's Robin van Persie celebrates scoring a goal in the derby against Galatasaray on November 20th, 2016Berk Ozkan / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu via AFP / Profimedia

Feyenoord, who qualified for the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round after finishing third in last season's Eredivisie, will have to play the Super Lig runners-up without star man Igor Paixao. The Brazilian forward recently sustained a muscle injury and is on his way to Olympique Marseille. Vice-captain David Hancko will also likely miss the qualifiers as the Slovakian international is finalising a move to Saudi side Al-Nassr.

Feyenoord and Fenerbahce will meet on August 5th or 6th for the home tie, and on August 12th for the away tie.

Feyenoord kick off their Eredivisie campaign on August 9th with a home game against NAC Breda, whilst Fenerbahce will play their first Super Lig game on the same day against Alanyaspor.

Check out the full draw for the Champions League qualifiers here.