Trabzonspor v Galatasaray: Mohamed Salah threat as champions seek fifth straight win

Galatasaray will aim to extend their unbeaten start to the Super Lig when they visit Trabzonspor at Papara Park on Saturday evening, with Mohamed Salah the hosts’ main attacking threat.

The defending champions lead the table with 13 points from their opening five matches, while Trabzonspor are ninth on seven points. The Black Sea club are looking for a high-profile victory to ease recent pressure and repeat their 2-1 success over Galatasaray in April.

Trabzonspor’s season has been unsettled. Fatih Tekke left after the club’s Europa League elimination by Ferencvaros, with former player Huseyin Cimsir taking temporary charge. His first match brought a 5-0 victory against Genclerbirligi, in which Paul Onuachu scored twice and Salah impressed, but Trabzonspor were beaten 1-0 by Konyaspor last week.

That result left them with two wins, one draw and two defeats from five league games, having scored nine goals and conceded five. Their April victory against Galatasaray featured an early goal from Onuachu in the fourth minute before Chibuike Nwaiwu sealed the result in the 62nd minute. It ended Galatasaray’s seven-match unbeaten league run at Papara Park, which had included four wins and three draws.

Galatasaray are seeking a fifth consecutive Super Lig title and have made a strong start, recording four wins and one draw, with 13 goals scored and six conceded. They sit one point above Besiktas.

Okan Buruk’s side beat Kocaelispor 1-0 last time out, Abdulkerim Bardakcı scoring in the 71st minute for a fourth successive league win following a 2-2 draw against promoted Corum on the opening day. Galatasaray did lose 3-1 to Sporting CP in the Champions League, but they have won both of their away league matches, beating Erzurumspor 4-0 and Istanbul Basaksehir 3-2.

Trabzonspor are without Ruslan Malinovskyi, Okay Yokuslu, Tim Jabol-Folcarelli, Arseniy Batagov and Noah Saviolo, who has a shoulder problem. Cimsir is expected to retain a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fabinho and Ozan Tufan in midfield.

Salah has scored four goals and provided one assist in the league since arriving in Turkey. He is expected to operate behind Onuachu alongside Ernest Muci and Aral Simshir, who has created six big chances this season.

Galatasaray will again be without Victor Osimhen, who suffered a groin injury against Istanbul Basaksehir. He missed the European trip to Lisbon and the win over Kocaelispor, and is not expected back before the end of September. Barıs Alper Yılmaz and Deniz Gul are competing to lead the attack, with Rafael Leao and Leroy Sane on the wings. Yunus Akgun has created six big chances and recorded 2.0 expected assists, while Gabriel Sara has 2.1 expected assists.

Mario Lemina, Wilfried Singo and goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc are also unavailable.

The expected line-ups are:

Trabzonspor: Onana; Pina, Nwaiwu, Savic, Eskihellac; Fabinho, Ozan Tufan; Salah, Muci, Simshir; Onuachu.

Galatasaray: Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Ismail Jakobs; Torreira, Sara; Sane, Akgun, Leao; Barıs Alper Yılmaz.

Galatasaray’s unbeaten league record makes them favourites, but Osimhen’s absence weakens their attack. Trabzonspor have won both home matches this season and could trouble the leaders. The predicted score is 1-1.