Trabzonspor and Besiktas arrive at Papara Park on 19 October 2026 separated by just two points. Trabzonspor sit fifth with 13 points and a goal difference of plus eleven from seven games, whereas Besiktas are fourth on 15 points with a goal difference of plus eight. A home win pulls Trabzonspor level on points with the teams above them, a Besiktas win stretches the gap.
Thomas Reis only took permanent charge of Trabzonspor on 17 September 2026, following Fatih Tekke's resignation after a Europa League exit and a brief caretaker spell under Hüseyin Çimşir, while Italiano has been in post at Besiktas since 6 June 2026. Neither has faced the other in a competitive fixture before, so there is no head to head record to lean on.
Trabzonspor's 13 points from seven games and a goal difference of plus eleven suggest a side already responding to Reis despite him having taken charge only five weeks ago, whereas Besiktas's 15 points from the same seven games put them one place and two points clear.
Neither side has reported absences, so both coaches can name their preferred XI. Reis will likely line Trabzonspor up with a high defensive line designed to compress the midfield and force Besiktas to play in front of the block, using Papara Park's wide pitch to invite pressure before springing quick balls in behind. Italiano's side will push the hosts back into their own half and look to win the ball before it reaches the midfield, with central midfielders screening behind the press.
The midfield battle is where this game gets decided: if Trabzonspor win the second ball and transition quickly they will find gaps behind Besiktas's aggressive shape, whereas if Italiano's press sticks his side can pin the hosts back for long stretches. The most likely scenario plays out either side of half time. If Trabzonspor score first, Reis drops his side deeper and invites Besiktas onto him, opening space for counter attacks, whereas if Besiktas strike first Italiano's press intensifies and Trabzonspor struggle to build from the back, with a goalless first half likely pushing both coaches to the bench early in the second period.
The clubs' long historical rivalry offers little useful context given both managers are new to their roles and the international break likely gave both sides a chance to recover after seven rounds in quick succession. Two more points in the table and a manager with four months of system building behind him make Besiktas the likelier winners on the day: Trabzonspor are still working out what they are under Reis, who only arrived in mid September and the visitors take it 2-1.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
