Turkish Super League Giants Seek Europa League Group Stage in Playoff First Legs
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Two Turkish Super League giants are set to compete in Europa League playoff first-leg matches on August 21, with both games kicking off at 01:00 HKT. Trabluspor, featuring newly-signed Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah, will face Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC, while Beşiktaş hosts Lithuanian champions Kaunas. The playoff winners will join 24 other teams in the main Europa League group stage.
Key Points
- Trabluspor finished third in the Turkish Super League last season, earning direct entry to the Europa League playoffs
- Mohamed Salah, 34, joined Trabluspor on a free transfer this summer on a two-year deal worth over 340,000 pounds weekly, making him the highest-paid player in Turkish Super League history
- Salah made his debut as a substitute in Trabluspor's 1-1 away draw against Kasımpaşa last weekend, easing into match fitness
- Beşiktaş advanced through two Europa League qualifying rounds with four consecutive wins and zero goals conceded
- Belgian winger Leandro Trossard, transferred from Arsenal, made his first start in Beşiktaş's 1-0 Turkish Super League home win
- Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic joined Beşiktaş from Juventus on a free transfer but is unlikely to feature in the first leg
Why It Matters
These matches represent a significant opportunity for Turkish football to strengthen its presence in European competition, with both clubs having invested heavily in star power to return to continental football after one-season absences from the Europa League .
These matches represent a significant opportunity for Turkish football to strengthen its presence in European competition, with both clubs having invested heavily in star power to return to continental football after one-season absences from the Europa League .