Will Trabzonspor knock the visitors from Slovakia out of the stadium?
Turkey’s top club Trabzonspor has been the subject of repeated reports in the German media in recent days. However, the reason for this is not the strong third place that the men from the Black Sea coast claimed for themselves in the last Süperliga season, but the disputes with former Dortmund professional Thomas Meunier.
The latter had announced his departure to Lille for family reasons exactly five minutes before his contract clause expired. Much to the incomprehension of the Trabzon management, who would have liked to continue working with the full-back. Even without Meunier, the “Bordo Mavililer” are the favorites on Thursday evening in the match between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok according to the odds
At least the quotes on the three-way market prove that impressively. If you want to place a bet on the Turks, who have a much stronger individual line-up, in the second leg of Trabzonspor v Ruzomberok, you will only find 1.28 at the top. After the 2-0 first-leg win in Slovakia, coach Abdullah Avci’s team do not even necessarily need a win to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. Nevertheless, TS will naturally want to showcase their good form in front of their own supporters in their first home game of the new season
This is one of the reasons why it might be sensible to predict a relatively high-scoring match between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok. The visitors must play to win, Trabzon will inevitably get chances to immortalize themselves on the scoreboard. You can get a great range of over/under bets at Winamax, for example.
Trabzonspor – Statistics & current form
Trabzon, who finished third last year, are no exception. Although the management on the Black Sea coast has not spent huge sums of money, they have signed some prominent players. Stefan Savic was released by Atletico Madrid, John Lundstram was brought in from Glasgow Rangers and Denis Dragus, who impressed as a striker for Romania at the European Championship, was bought from Standard Lüttlich for just under two million euros.
However, it will be a difficult task this season to confirm last year’s top three finish. The three clubs from Istanbul have strengthened their squad both on and off the pitch. This makes it all the more important for “Karadeniz Fırtınası” to also perform on the international stage. After a year out of Europe, TS has set itself the goal of reaching the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. Incidentally, if the Avci side’s prediction of progressing in Thursday evening’s second leg between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok goes through, the winner of Wisla Krakow v Rapid Vienna would be waiting in the third round
Trabzonspor are difficult to beat in their own stadium
We have no major doubts about advancing to the next round. Trabzon won the first leg in Slovakia 2-0 and could therefore theoretically even afford a narrow defeat in front of their own fans. However, we don’t even begin to believe that either. In the last European Cup season in 2022/23, the claret and blue remained unbeaten in five games at home, celebrating four wins and also keeping a clean sheet four times. Their last home defeat on the European stage came on 19 August 2021, when they narrowly lost 2-1 to AS Roma in the Conference League play-offs. Incidentally, they also won twelve of their 19 matches at the Senol Günes Sports Complex in the past Süperliga season.
The Black Sea side are an absolute force at home, so we are definitely considering the odds on a home win between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok. However, as these are too low on balance, it is a conceivable approach to combine this bet with over-goals or goals from both teams. An attractive 2.67 at Betano beckons for a home win in conjunction with the “Both teams to score”. With the Betano welcome bonus and the exclusive betting base code, you can minimize your own betting risk. The fact that the new league season in Turkey does not start until mid-August and that Trabzon have not been without a clean sheet in any of their previous test matches also speaks in favor of conceding a goal on Thursday evening.
Expected line-up of Trabzonspor:
Cakir; Tufan, Mendy, Denswil, Elmali; Günes, Lundstram; Visca, Bardhi, Trezeguet; Dragus
Ruzomberok – Statistics & current form
It comes as no surprise that Mestský Futbalový Klub Ruzomberok are considered to be the clear underdogs against a top Turkish team. 2020/21 was the last time the white-yellow-and-reds took part in an international competition. Back then, the Slovakians were eliminated by Servette Geneva in the first round of Europa League qualifying. The opening hurdle in 2019/20 also proved too high with Levski Sofia. All in all, the club from the city of 26,000 inhabitants has only managed to score in one of its previous European Cup matches.
This streak was also not improved in the first leg a week ago, even though the underdogs played a good home match, had five (!) more shots on goal at the end and won a whopping 14 corners. However, they still failed to score. However, we believe it is quite possible that this will change on Thursday evening on the Black Sea. As a reminder: In the first qualifying round against the Kazakh club Tobyl Qostanai, they scored five goals of their own. The defeat in the second leg therefore no longer mattered
Ruzomberok has nothing to lose and wants to play forward
Although we look in vain for familiar players in the Slovakian squad, 41-year-old coach Ondrej Smetana stands for a bold style of play. Admittedly, he and his team have no choice in the second leg, because after the aforementioned 2-0 defeat a week ago, MFK are logically forced to score at least two goals of their own.
In our eyes, this tricky starting position also increases the chances of the home side creating dangerous chances time and again. Without committing ourselves to the result, we therefore take a closer look at the odds for over three goals between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok. For an Asian bet, a 1.78 can be played at Winamax. If exactly three goals are scored, there is cashback, from four goals after regular playing time this bet goes through.
Predicted line-up of Ruzomberok:
Frühwald; Mojzis, Gabriel, Maly; Domonkos, Lavrincik, Luteran, Tucny; Gerec, Chrien, Boda
Trabzonspor – Ruzomberok head-to-head comparison / H2H result
The teams faced each other for the first time on the international stage in the first leg the previous week. For Trabzonspor, it was historically the fourth meeting with a club from Slovakia. With two wins, one draw and one defeat, the result is just positive. A total of 14 goals were scored in those four matches. However, the other matches either took place a long time ago or were played on a friendly basis. The relevance is therefore limited
Trabzonspor – Ruzomberok betting tip
Trabzonspor, who finished third in the Süperliga last season, are undoubtedly aiming to qualify for the Europa League group stage. On the way there, however, the Black Sea side will have to live up to their role as favorites time and time again. For example, in the second qualifying round against the cup winners from Slovakia.
After the 2:0 victory in the first leg, however, advancing should only be a formality for coach Abdullah Avci’s team. At least there is no evidence to suggest that the visitors will suddenly outgrow themselves and pull off a sensational coup. However, after their decent performance a week ago and in view of their starting position, we believe the Slovakians are capable of scoring. Especially in view of the fact that supposedly safe favorites like to allow themselves unexpected lapses here and there
Since the odds on the three-way market do not offer much and any handicap bets on the hosts, who do not necessarily have to win, are not our preferred approach, our focus is on the number of goals. Our Trabzonspor vs Ruzomberok betting tip is aimed at the over 3 goals (Asian). If exactly three goals are scored, the stake is returned, and if four goals are scored or more, we can get a very respectable 1.78 at Winamax. We select seven units as the stake
