Trabzonspor seek Europa League comeback against Ferencvaros

Trabzonspor travel to Hungary on Thursday needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Ferencvaros to keep their UEFA Europa League campaign alive and end a two-year wait for a victory in European competition.

The Turkish side lost the first leg in Trabzon last week after Kristoffer Zachariassen headed Ferencvaros in front in the 17th minute. The Hungarian champions then protected their advantage effectively, while Trabzonspor’s task became even harder when Chibuike Nwaiwu was sent off in stoppage time.

Trabzonspor must now win at Groupama Arena to advance to the Europa League league phase. A one-goal victory would send the tie to extra time, while any other defeat or a draw would eliminate the Turkish club.

The second leg will also mark Trabzonspor’s 157th appearance in European competition.

The Black Sea club have won 56 of their previous 156 European matches, along with 39 draws and 61 defeats. They have scored 194 goals and conceded 210 since making their continental debut in the 1976-77 season.

Trabzonspor’s European record includes 30 matches in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, 98 in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, 12 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, eight in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and eight in the UEFA Conference League.

99th Europa League appearance

Thursday’s match will be Trabzonspor’s 99th game in the UEFA Cup and Europa League, Europe’s second-tier club competition.

The club first competed in the UEFA Cup during the 1982-83 season against Kaiserslautern and have since recorded 38 wins, 22 draws and 38 losses in 98 matches. Trabzonspor have scored 130 goals and conceded 132 in the competition.

A victory in Budapest would carry additional significance because Trabzonspor have not won a European match since Aug. 1, 2024, when they defeated Slovakian side Ruzomberok 1-0.

They have gone five European matches without a win since then, recording two draws and three defeats.

Trabzonspor advanced past Ruzomberok in the 2024-25 Europa League qualifying campaign but were eliminated by Rapid Vienna in the third qualifying round after losing 2-0 away and 1-0 at home.

They subsequently moved into the Conference League, where they were eliminated by Swiss club St. Gallen on penalties after the second leg finished 1-1 following extra time.

The club missed out on European competition last season after finishing seventh in the Turkish Super Lig, but returned to the continental stage by winning the Turkish Cup, which earned them a place in the Europa League playoff round.

Their route to the league phase has now been complicated by the 1-0 first-leg defeat to Ferencvaros.

Ferencvaros hold the advantage

Ferencvaros arrive at Groupama Arena with confidence and a strong home record.

They have won twice and drawn once in three European matches at home this season and remain unbeaten in four matches at the stadium, including their domestic fixture.

Their qualifying campaign has already included victories over Vojvodina and Twente before they eliminated Gornik Zabrze in the previous round.

History also gives the Hungarian champions reason for optimism. Ferencvaros defeated Trabzonspor 3-2 at Groupama Arena when the teams met in the Europa League group stage during the 2022-23 season.

Coach Balazs Borbely will want his side to improve on its possession numbers from the first leg, when Ferencvaros had only 34% of the ball. Zachariassen is expected to retain his place after scoring the decisive goal, while Lenny Joseph should offer pace in attack.

Philippe Rommens and Marius Corbu are likely to operate in midfield as Ferencvaros look to control the game and force Trabzonspor to chase the tie.

Salah offers Trabzonspor a new attacking weapon

Trabzonspor will arrive in Budapest with renewed confidence after Mohamed Salah inspired a 2-1 Super Lig victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on Sunday.

Salah scored both goals in his first league start for the club, opening the scoring in the eighth minute after capitalizing on a goalkeeper’s mistake before restoring Trabzonspor’s lead three minutes into the second half.

The Egypt international’s performance provides a major boost for Fatih Tekke as Trabzonspor attempt to overturn the first-leg deficit.

Salah will also be seeking his first European goals for Trabzonspor, with his ability to attack from the right flank and create opportunities likely to pose a different problem for Ferencvaros.

Trabzonspor have won one, drawn one and lost one of their opening three matches this season, although defensive concerns remain after conceding in all three.

Nwaiwu’s suspension adds to those problems. Samet Akaydin is expected to replace the dismissed defender in central defense.

Okay Yokuslu and Arseniy Batagov were unavailable for the European squad because of their respective fitness situations, while Tim Jabol-Folcarelli remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Tekke seeks first European win as coach

The match will be another important test for Tekke, who is preparing for only his second European game as a coach.

The 48-year-old enjoyed European success as a player with Zenit St. Petersburg, winning the UEFA Cup, but he is still searching for his first continental victory from the dugout.

After beginning his coaching career with Kayseri Erciyesspor, Tekke also managed Boluspor, Manisaspor, Denizlispor, Istanbulspor, Bursaspor and Alanyaspor before taking charge of Trabzonspor and guiding the club back into European competition.

He now needs a victory in Budapest to keep that European journey alive.

There is also uncertainty surrounding Fabinho, who joined Trabzonspor on a two-year contract Monday.

The former Liverpool and Al-Ittihad midfielder has reunited with Salah in Türkiye, but his arrival only two days before the second leg makes an immediate European debut uncertain.

DAILYSABAH