Sports
Trabzonspor Seek Third Straight European Win in First Clash with Freiburg
Trabzonspor will aim to extend their perfect start to the UEFA Conference League when they host German side Freiburg at Papara Park on Thursday. The Black Sea Storm, led by Thomas Reis, have won their first two league‑phase matches and recorded seven consecutive victories across all competitions. They are chasing a third consecutive European win and a place among the competition’s early pace‑setters. The match, which kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time, will also mark Trabzonspor’s 160th appearance in European competition and their first meeting with Freiburg.
Trabzonspor opened their continental campaign with a 4‑2 away win over Finland’s KuPS and then beat Scotland’s Hearts 2‑0 at home. Their domestic run has been strong, with victories over Beşiktaş, Rizespor and Gaziantep, and they have won six straight matches at Papara Park. A win would extend that streak to seven, give them a third straight triumph in major European competition – a feat not achieved since November 2013 – and would be only the second time the club has won its first three league‑phase matches in a European campaign.
Freiburg bring a different level of opposition. The German club reached last season’s UEFA Europa League final, losing to Aston Villa in Istanbul, and have European experience despite an inconsistent start to the season. They began this Conference League campaign with a 3‑2 win over Jablonec, then lost 3‑0 away to Monaco. After a 3‑1 Bundesliga loss to Bayern Munich, they recovered with a 3‑2 DFB‑Pokal win over Wolfsburg and a 2‑1 Bundesliga win against Augsburg. Their away record in European competition remains a concern, having lost four of their previous five continental away matches.
Trabzonspor have shown attacking threat, scoring four goals against KuPS and producing a convincing performance against Rizespor in the league. The encounter will be the first time the clubs have faced each other, adding another chapter to Trabzonspor’s European history. The Turkish side have played 159 continental matches since 1976‑77, recording 58 wins, 39 draws and 62 defeats, with 200 goals scored and 216 conceded.
Trabzonspor’s selection will be affected by suspensions and injuries: Sidny Lopes Cabral is suspended after a red card against Hearts; Aral Şimşir, Franculino Dju, Arseniy Batagov and young goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan are injured. Availability of Ruslan Malinovskyi, Okay Yokuşlu and Cihan Çanak is uncertain, and Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu’s fitness will be monitored after returning to the starting lineup against Gaziantep.
Freiburg are expected to be without Philipp Treu, who is recovering from an ankle problem, and Florent Muslija, who remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury. The German side should have options in central defence, with Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart expected to provide stability. Maximilian Eggestein and Yannik Engelhardt are among the midfield alternatives, while Vincenzo Grifo, Yuito Suzuki and Jan‑Niklas Beste could supply creativity behind Igor Matanovic, who arrives in Istanbul in encouraging form having scored in each of Freiburg’s last two matches.
Frequently asked questions
How many consecutive European wins has Trabzonspor achieved?
They have won their first two league‑phase matches and recorded seven consecutive victories across all competitions.
What milestone does this match represent for Trabzonspor?
It marks Trabzonspor’s 160th appearance in European competition and their first meeting with Freiburg.