Matchweek 2 of the Trendyol Süper Lig brings Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir together at Papara Park on 23 August 2026, with both clubs chasing points as European qualification spots begin to take shape. Trabzonspor come in 13th, still shaking off a Europa League qualifying exit, whereas Basaksehir sit in the top three after opening with a 2-0 win and are looking to make it two from two. Fatih Tekke has been at Trabzonspor since replacing Şenol Güneş on 11 March 2025, shifting the team toward a more expansive shape, while Nuri Şahin took over at Basaksehir on 15 September 2025, built a compact 4-2-3-1 where the double pivot sits narrow to shield the back four and has since met Tekke four times in the Süper Lig.
Trabzonspor drew 1-1 with Kasımpaşa on 15 August before losing 0-1 to Ferencváros in Europa League qualifying three days later, two points dropped and a European exit in under a week. Basaksehir, by contrast, kept a clean sheet against Kocaelispor and won 2-0 on 16 August.
Trabzonspor are dealing with real problems at the back and in midfield, with both Arseniy Batagov and Tim Jabol-Folcarelli out with knee injuries, leaving Tekke short on cover in the defensive line, while Okay Yokuşlu remains a doubt on fitness to compound things further, whereas Şahin has no significant absences and can pick his strongest side.
Paul Onuachu leads the attack with Ruslan Malinovskyi driving play from deep through progressive passing and Mohamed Salah's recent arrival offers another forward option in behind. The back line, though, is thinner than Tekke would like without Batagov and Jabol-Folcarelli and Yokuşlu's potential absence leaves a gap in midfield cover that Basaksehir's counter pressing system is designed to exploit. Basaksehir's 4-2-3-1 is built to absorb pressure and hit quickly, with Shomurodov the primary outlet: he scored 22 league goals last season and is likely to face a centre back pairing with less Süper Lig experience than Trabzonspor would want. Christopher Operi operates at left back in a shape that prioritises defensive recovery, while Andreas Skov Olsen works the half spaces from the number ten position and whether Malinovskyi can keep things ticking against the double pivot will probably determine whether this becomes a Trabzonspor performance or a Basaksehir smash and grab.
Trabzonspor have gone eight games unbeaten against Basaksehir across all competitions, winning six and their home record at Papara Park shows six consecutive unbeaten meetings. The two most recent fixtures are instructive: the April 2026 1-1 draw and the November 2025 4-3 Trabzonspor win suggest Basaksehir find ways to score here even when they come away with nothing.
Onuachu is a natural target from corners and free kicks wide and Basaksehir will need to account for him at every dead ball. The likelier problem for the home side, though, is fatigue: the midweek trip to Ferencváros may dull their pressing intensity in the second half, which is exactly when Shomurodov tends to do his damage.
A 1-1 draw looks the most likely outcome. Onuachu against a patched defence with Malinovskyi supplying from deep should produce at least one opening that counts but the defensive absences make it hard to see Trabzonspor keeping a clean sheet against a Basaksehir side that kept one themselves on matchday one and has Shomurodov running off a counter pressing system. Trabzonspor lead the head to head with six wins from eight but Basaksehir have scored in both recent meetings and that pattern lands this on 1-1.
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?.
