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- Jul 14, 2025
Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros
Turkey, UEFA Europa League Play-off Round First Leg, Papara Park, 20:00 EEST
Papara Park hosts the biggest night of the UEFA Europa League play-off round because Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros is the only genuinely even tie among the heavyweights, and because Mohamed Salah is in line for his first Trabzonspor start. Salah joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer on a two-year contract after nine seasons at Liverpool, the most high-profile free signing in Super Lig history, and the 34-year-old came off the bench in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Kasimpasa, where in around 30 minutes he posted the highest expected goals figure of any player on the pitch, created two chances and attempted eight crosses. Fatih Tekke's Trabzonspor reached this round by winning last season's Turkish Cup, which let them skip the earlier qualifiers, and the Black Sea Storm also have Paul Onuachu, joint top scorer in the Super Lig last season with 22 goals, with Andre Onana expected to continue in goal. Trabzonspor are without Arseniy Batagov and Tim Jabol-Folcarelli with knee injuries, Ernest Muci with a hamstring problem and Okay Yokuslu is still short of match fitness. Ferencvaros arrive as Hungarian champions and Fatih Tekke has openly called them the stronger side on paper, which is not false modesty given Ferencvaros hold the higher UEFA coefficient in this tie. Ferencvaros came through the previous round 2-1 on aggregate against Gornik Zabrze, winning 1-0 at home before a 1-1 draw in Poland, and they have stayed unbeaten away all qualifying campaign after beating Vojvodina and Twente and drawing at Gornik. Ferencvaros also know a Conference League league phase place is already banked, so Trabzonspor carry all the pressure at Papara Park, with Denes Dibusz behind a settled back line and Kristoffer Zachariassen and Lenny Joseph the men who have carried the Ferencvaros attack through qualifying. Ferencvaros have the pedigree too, having come from 2-0 down on aggregate to beat Ludogorets 3-2 in last season's UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round, and the return leg is at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on 27 August.
BetBrain Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros betting insights:
Double Chance Trabzonspor or Draw The cleanest starting point is that Ferencvaros are unlikely to win this away leg. Ferencvaros have been unbeaten on the road in qualifying but they have drawn far more than they have won, with 0-0 against Vasas, 1-1 at Gornik Zabrze and a run of narrow one-goal results, and Papara Park with a sold-out Trabzonspor crowd is a completely different environment to Zabrze or Novi Sad. Fatih Tekke has all but announced a cautious approach, which historically produces solid home first legs rather than open ones. Trabzonspor also have the best player on the pitch, and Mohamed Salah starting changes what Ferencvaros have to worry about defensively.
Both Teams To Score Both sides carry real threat and neither back line looks watertight. Trabzonspor conceded a penalty to Adrian Benedyczak on the Super Lig opening weekend and are missing two centre-backs in Arseniy Batagov and Tim Jabol-Folcarelli, which is a serious dent in a first leg. Ferencvaros, meanwhile, scored in every away qualifier they played and have Kristoffer Zachariassen and Lenny Joseph running at defenders in transition, plus the freedom of knowing the Conference League is already secured. On the other side, Paul Onuachu scored 22 in the Super Lig last season and Mohamed Salah is not coming to Trabzon to sit deep, so goals at both ends is the likeliest shape.
Mohamed Salah To Score Anytime The value angle is the obvious one and the price is still generous because Mohamed Salah is yet to start for Trabzonspor. Look at what he did in a 30-minute cameo at Kasimpasa though, the highest expected goals figure on the pitch from anybody, two chances created and eight crosses attempted, which tells you exactly how central he already is to how Trabzonspor attack. Ferencvaros will double up on him and Fatih Tekke may keep the shape compact, but Mohamed Salah has spent nine seasons scoring in European nights just like this one and Papara Park is set up for a moment. Against a Ferencvaros defence that shipped one at home to Gornik Zabrze and one away, at better than 3.00 this is the standout price in the play-off round.
Top Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros betting tips from BetBrain experts
Double Chance Trabzonspor or Draw - at 1.32
Both Teams To Score - at 1.83
Mohamed Salah To Score Anytime - at 3.10
The likeliest story at Papara Park is a cagey opening from Fatih Tekke's Trabzonspor, a Mohamed Salah moment that lifts the roof off, then a Ferencvaros response from a set piece or a transition that leaves the tie level going to Budapest. A 1-1 finish with Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet lines all three picks up cleanly, landing the Double Chance, landing Both Teams To Score and hitting the anytime scorer. Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros is the most balanced tie in the UEFA Europa League play-off round and it should still be alive when these two meet again at the Groupama Arena on 27 August.
Turkey, UEFA Europa League Play-off Round First Leg, Papara Park, 20:00 EEST
Papara Park hosts the biggest night of the UEFA Europa League play-off round because Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros is the only genuinely even tie among the heavyweights, and because Mohamed Salah is in line for his first Trabzonspor start. Salah joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer on a two-year contract after nine seasons at Liverpool, the most high-profile free signing in Super Lig history, and the 34-year-old came off the bench in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Kasimpasa, where in around 30 minutes he posted the highest expected goals figure of any player on the pitch, created two chances and attempted eight crosses. Fatih Tekke's Trabzonspor reached this round by winning last season's Turkish Cup, which let them skip the earlier qualifiers, and the Black Sea Storm also have Paul Onuachu, joint top scorer in the Super Lig last season with 22 goals, with Andre Onana expected to continue in goal. Trabzonspor are without Arseniy Batagov and Tim Jabol-Folcarelli with knee injuries, Ernest Muci with a hamstring problem and Okay Yokuslu is still short of match fitness. Ferencvaros arrive as Hungarian champions and Fatih Tekke has openly called them the stronger side on paper, which is not false modesty given Ferencvaros hold the higher UEFA coefficient in this tie. Ferencvaros came through the previous round 2-1 on aggregate against Gornik Zabrze, winning 1-0 at home before a 1-1 draw in Poland, and they have stayed unbeaten away all qualifying campaign after beating Vojvodina and Twente and drawing at Gornik. Ferencvaros also know a Conference League league phase place is already banked, so Trabzonspor carry all the pressure at Papara Park, with Denes Dibusz behind a settled back line and Kristoffer Zachariassen and Lenny Joseph the men who have carried the Ferencvaros attack through qualifying. Ferencvaros have the pedigree too, having come from 2-0 down on aggregate to beat Ludogorets 3-2 in last season's UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round, and the return leg is at the Groupama Arena in Budapest on 27 August.
BetBrain Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros betting insights: Double Chance Trabzonspor or Draw The cleanest starting point is that Ferencvaros are unlikely to win this away leg. Ferencvaros have been unbeaten on the road in qualifying but they have drawn far more than they have won, with 0-0 against Vasas, 1-1 at Gornik Zabrze and a run of narrow one-goal results, and Papara Park with a sold-out Trabzonspor crowd is a completely different environment to Zabrze or Novi Sad. Fatih Tekke has all but announced a cautious approach, which historically produces solid home first legs rather than open ones. Trabzonspor also have the best player on the pitch, and Mohamed Salah starting changes what Ferencvaros have to worry about defensively. Both Teams To Score Both sides carry real threat and neither back line looks watertight. Trabzonspor conceded a penalty to Adrian Benedyczak on the Super Lig opening weekend and are missing two centre-backs in Arseniy Batagov and Tim Jabol-Folcarelli, which is a serious dent in a first leg. Ferencvaros, meanwhile, scored in every away qualifier they played and have Kristoffer Zachariassen and Lenny Joseph running at defenders in transition, plus the freedom of knowing the Conference League is already secured. On the other side, Paul Onuachu scored 22 in the Super Lig last season and Mohamed Salah is not coming to Trabzon to sit deep, so goals at both ends is the likeliest shape. Mohamed Salah To Score Anytime The value angle is the obvious one and the price is still generous because Mohamed Salah is yet to start for Trabzonspor. Look at what he did in a 30-minute cameo at Kasimpasa though, the highest expected goals figure on the pitch from anybody, two chances created and eight crosses attempted, which tells you exactly how central he already is to how Trabzonspor attack. Ferencvaros will double up on him and Fatih Tekke may keep the shape compact, but Mohamed Salah has spent nine seasons scoring in European nights just like this one and Papara Park is set up for a moment. Against a Ferencvaros defence that shipped one at home to Gornik Zabrze and one away, at better than 3.00 this is the standout price in the play-off round. Top Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros betting tips from BetBrain expertsDouble Chance Trabzonspor or Draw - at 1.32
Both Teams To Score - at 1.83
Mohamed Salah To Score Anytime - at 3.10
The likeliest story at Papara Park is a cagey opening from Fatih Tekke's Trabzonspor, a Mohamed Salah moment that lifts the roof off, then a Ferencvaros response from a set piece or a transition that leaves the tie level going to Budapest. A 1-1 finish with Mohamed Salah on the scoresheet lines all three picks up cleanly, landing the Double Chance, landing Both Teams To Score and hitting the anytime scorer. Trabzonspor vs Ferencvaros is the most balanced tie in the UEFA Europa League play-off round and it should still be alive when these two meet again at the Groupama Arena on 27 August.