Süper Lig Showdown: Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş Go Head to Head
Trabzonspor host Beşiktaş at Papara Park tonight at 20:00 in Week 8 of the Süper Lig, with fourth-placed Beşiktaş on 15 points and Trabzonspor fifth on 13.
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Week 8 of the Süper Lig features a heavyweight clash between Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş. The two sides meet tonight at 20:00 at Papara Park. After 7 league matches, Beşiktaş sit fourth on 15 points, while Trabzonspor are fifth with 13. Both teams won in European competition during the week and will be looking to gain an edge in the race at the top of the Süper Lig.
In Trabzonspor's attack, Mohamed Salah has stood out with his performances in the opening stage of the season. The Egyptian star, who left Liverpool to join the Bordo-Mavililer in the summer transfer window, has contributed 7 goals and 3 assists in his Süper Lig appearances. At Beşiktaş, Dušan Vlahović, who arrived on a free transfer from Juventus, is the team's top scorer with 6 league goals. The 26-year-old Serbian striker will be one of the Black Eagles' biggest attacking weapons against Trabzonspor.
The two clubs have faced each other in 121 official matches. Beşiktaş have won 46 of those meetings and Trabzonspor 44, while 31 ended in draws. Last season, the first meeting in Trabzon finished 3-3, and Trabzonspor won the return fixture in Istanbul 2-1. Trabzonspor are unbeaten in their last two league matches against their opponents.
Both sides closed out the week with European victories. Trabzonspor claimed their first win in Europe by beating Finnish side KuPS 4-2 away in the UEFA Conference League. Under Thomas Reis, Trabzonspor thrashed Galatasaray 4-0 at home in their last-but-one league match before returning from Samsunspor with a 3-0 win. The Black Sea club have therefore kept clean sheets and scored 7 goals in their last two league games.
Beşiktaş, meanwhile, beat Hoffenheim 3-2 away in the UEFA Europa League for their second win in the group stage. Having beaten Marseille 4-1 in their opener, the Black Eagles have found the net 7 times in two matches. Vincenzo Italiano's Beşiktaş defeated Kocaelispor 2-1 in their most recent Süper Lig outing and head to Trabzon in high spirits.
Trabzonspor have significant absences ahead of the match. Ruslan Malinovskyi, Arseniy Batagov, Okay Yokuşlu, Paul Onuachu, Mustafa Eskihellaç, Cihan Çanak and young goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan are all ruled out through injury. Melih Kabasakal is suspended after being sent off against Samsunspor, while Batista Mendy and Benjamin Bouchouari are among the players not eligible to play.
For Beşiktaş, the most significant absentee is captain Orkun Kökçü. The 25-year-old midfielder was injured in the UEFA Europa League clash with Hoffenheim and has been ruled out of this tough fixture.