In the first leg of the second Europa League qualifying round, MFK Ruzomberok are set to host Trabzonspor at Futbalovy stadion MFK Ruzomberok on Thursday.
The home side finished sixth in the regular season of Slovakia's top flight in 2023-24 with 34 points from 22 games, while the visitors finished third in Turkey's Super Lig with 67 points from 38 games.
Match preview
Though the hosts did lose 1-0 against Tobol in the second leg of the first qualifying round on July 18, their 5-2 first-leg victory on July 11 was enough to see them progress with the scoreline 5-3 on aggregate.
In their 5-2 victory, Ruzomberok did concede first against Tobol, but two first half goals and three second half goals helped them to secure a commanding lead ahead of the second leg.
The Rose ended the 2023-24 regular season with four more points than they achieved in 2022-23, but they did disappointingly finish their overall campaign with 47 points, the same as they did in the 2022-23 season.
Ruzomberok reached the qualifying rounds of the Europa League thanks to their Slovensky Pohar win last term, and this was their first major trophy since 2005-06.
Manager Ondrej Smetan took charge in October 2023 and replaced Peter Tomko after the latter had lost his final game 5-0 against Podbrezova on October 21.
Over the course of the entire season, Smetan's side scored 38 goals and conceded 43, and this made them the division's eighth-best offensive and seventh-best defensive team.
Opponents Trabzonspor did not participate in the first Europa League qualifying round, and Thursday's game will be their first competitive match in all competitions since May 26.
In the Turkish Super Lig, Black Sea Storm's third-placed finish was perhaps overshadowed by the historic title race between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, in which the sides accumulated 102 and 99 points respectively.
However, Trabzonspor's total of 67 points was 10 more than they achieved in the 2022-23 season and this should not be overlooked.
In 2023-24, the club scored 69 league goals and conceded on 50 occasions, and this made them the division's third-best offensive and joint sixth-best defensive team respectively.
Manager Abdullah Avci has been in charge since October 2023 and has overseen 37 games as Trabzonspor boss.
Of these 37 games, Avci has won 23, drawn four and lost 10, and his 62% win rate is the highest he has achieved in any of his six managerial jobs.
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Team News
The hosts are likely to name a similar XI to the one that comfortably beat Tobol 5-3 on aggregate, so Jan Hladik and Martin Chrien can be expected to start in the forward line.
Elsewhere, given that defenders Simon Gabriel, Matus Maly and Alexander Selecky all scored in the first leg against Tobol for Ruzomberok, they are likely to retain their place in the team.
As for the visitors, centre-back Huseyin Turkmen is ruled out due to an Achilles tendon rupture and is not scheduled to return until next month.
Midfielder Enis Bardhi scored for Trabzonspor in a 3-1 friendly win against Zeleznicar on July 13 and could start on Thursday.
MFK Ruzomberok possible starting lineup:
Fruhwald; Kostl, Gabriel, Maly, Selecky; Mudry, Lavrincik; Tucny, Chrien, Luteran; Hladik
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Tepe; Elmali, Denswil, Mendy, Asan; Gunes, Lundstram; Visca, Bardhi, Trezeguet; Bozok
We say: MFK Ruzomberok 1-2 Trabzonspor
While Ruzomberok will feel confident of causing the visitors difficulty given their performances against Tobol, they still experienced moments of defensive vulnerability in those games.
Additionally, Trabzonspor will take confidence from the fact their hosts did concede the first goal in both legs of the first qualifying round, and should come into the game as favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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