Mohamed Salah named in Trabzonspor XI for first European assignment

Mohamed Salah will make his first start for Trabzonspor when the Turkish club host Ferencvarosi in the first leg of their 2026-27 UEFA Europa League qualifying tie on Thursday evening.

The Egypt international has been selected in the starting line-up for the visit of the Hungarian side at Papara Park, marking the first time he has begun a match since joining Trabzonspor.

Salah’s European involvement comes after he made his domestic debut for the club as a substitute against Kasımpasa last Saturday. Trabzonspor opened their Turkish league campaign with a 1-1 draw, with Salah introduced from the bench rather than included from the beginning.

The return leg against Ferencvarosi will be played in Hungary next Thursday. Before that second European meeting, Trabzonspor will return to league action when they face Istanbul Basaksehir on Sunday in the second round of the Turkish league season.

Trabzonspor manager Fatih Tekke has named Salah in a front three alongside Noah Saviolo and Paul Onuachu. The team also includes Andre Onana in goal.

Trabzonspor’s starting line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana

Defenders: Lopez Cabral, Chibuike Nwajo, Cenk Ozkacar, Wagner Pina

Midfielders: Melih Kabasakal, Umut Nayir, Benjamin Bouchouari

Forwards: Noah Saviolo, Paul Onuachu, Mohamed Salah

The match at Papara Park is Trabzonspor’s first step in their bid to reach the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League. The club will take a lead, or deficit, to the second leg in Hungary, with qualification to be decided across the two matches.

For Salah, the fixture represents his first opportunity to start in a Trabzonspor shirt after beginning his time at the club with a short appearance from the bench in the league. His inclusion from the outset against Ferencvarosi places him in the team for the opening European match of the campaign.

The winger will now be part of a Trabzonspor attack featuring Onuachu, while Saviolo completes the chosen front line. Tekke has also retained Onana as the side’s goalkeeper for the home tie.

The Turkish club’s schedule means their European commitments are closely followed by domestic fixtures. After welcoming Ferencvarosi to Papara Park, Trabzonspor will travel on with their league programme and meet Istanbul Basaksehir on Sunday. The return match in Hungary follows four days later, on the next Thursday.

Salah’s first start therefore comes at the beginning of a demanding sequence for Trabzonspor, with the club balancing their Turkish league campaign and their attempt to progress through the Europa League qualifying rounds.