Trabzonspor will face Finnish side KuPS Kuopio away from home in the first week of the UEFA Conference League league phase. The starting XIs for both teams have been announced ahead of the match to be played at Tammelan Stadium.
STARTING XIS ANNOUNCED
KuPS Kuopio will take the field with Kreidl, Nuhu, Pennanen, Kujasalo, Pasanen, Parzyszek, Luyeye-Lutumba, Lötjönen, Armah, Puukko, and Eskesen.
Trabzonspor manager Thomas Reis has assigned Onana, Mendy, Samet, Bouchouari, Salah, Ozan, Pina, Onuachu, Cenk, Melih, and Aral to the starting lineup.
The match, which will start at 19:45 TSI, will be officiated by Ishmael Barbara from the Malta Football Association. Barbara will be assisted by Luke Portelli and Duncan Spencer from the same country.
The burgundy-blues, who were eliminated in the UEFA Europa League play-off round by Hungarian side Ferencvaros with scores of 1-0 and 4-0, are continuing their European journey in the Conference League. The Black Sea team aims to boost morale by starting the league phase with a victory.
Under the management of Thomas Reis, Trabzonspor has recently gained momentum in the Süper Lig. Under Reis's leadership, the burgundy-blues defeated Galatasaray 4-0 at home and Samsunspor 3-0 away. The coaching staff wants to carry this streak into Europe with the KuPS match.
Trabzonspor's last victory in European cups was against Ruzomberok on August 1, 2024, in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. Since that match, the burgundy-blues have recorded 4 losses and 2 draws in the 6 matches they have played in Europe.
In the visiting team, Nwaiwu and Cabral are not in the squad due to red card suspensions. While Okay Yokuşlu and young goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan are injured, Melih Kabasakal was added to the UEFA list to replace Malinovskyi, who is suspended and injured.
KuPS Kuopio is playing its Conference League matches in Tampere, approximately 300 kilometers away, because its own stadium does not meet UEFA criteria. The pitch at the 8,000-capacity Tammelan Stadium, where the match will be held, is made of artificial turf.
News Source: 12punto
