Mohamed Salah scores hat-trick as Trabzonspor hand Galatasaray first league defeat

Galatasaray’s unbeaten start to the league season ended in emphatic fashion on Saturday as the defending champions were beaten 4-0 by Trabzonspor, with Mohamed Salah involved in all four goals.

The Egypt forward produced a memorable display, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist as Trabzonspor delivered one of the biggest results of the early campaign against one of Turkish football’s leading sides.

Salah sets the tone from the start

Trabzonspor needed only four minutes to take control. Salah was released during a rapid counter-attack and finished the move with composure to put the home side in front.

Galatasaray were unable to respond before Trabzonspor doubled their advantage in the 39th minute. Salah turned creator, delivering a precise pass for Noah Saviolo, who made it 2-0.

The assist underlined the Egyptian’s influence, with the former Liverpool player proving just as effective in supplying chances as he was in finishing them.

Salah then struck again before half-time. After Franculino won possession high up the pitch, the 34-year-old forward capitalised on the opportunity to score his second goal of the evening in the 44th minute.

That goal gave Trabzonspor a commanding advantage at the interval and left Galatasaray facing a difficult task to salvage anything from the match.

The visitors never managed to change the course of the game after the break. Salah completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute, finishing another swift counter-attack to make sure of Trabzonspor’s victory.

Salah’s impressive early-season form

Salah had already made a strong start to the league campaign before Saturday’s match, with four goals and one assist to his name. His performance against Galatasaray added three goals and another assist to that record.

His contribution extended beyond the goals and assists. Operating throughout the match, Salah remained a constant threat and played a direct role in every one of Trabzonspor’s four goals.

For Galatasaray, the result was their first league defeat of the season and a bruising evening against the defending champions. Trabzonspor, meanwhile, secured a major early-season statement, powered by Salah’s decisive performance.

The Egypt international finished the match as the central figure in a result that will be remembered for his three goals, his assist and his decisive influence from the opening minutes until the final stages.