Overview
- Trabzonspor were beaten 1-0 at Papara Park on Thursday when Kristoffer Zachariassen headed the only goal in the 17th minute.
- Mohamed Salah played the full match in his first start for the club, created several chances and saw a 55th-minute header cleared off the line but did not score.
- Defender Chibuike Nwaiwu received a straight red in stoppage time and will miss the second leg in Budapest on August 27.
- Talks to sign Darwin Núñez reportedly collapsed because Trabzonspor would not meet his wage demands, leaving the club without that attacking option before the return match.
- Trabzonspor signed Salah on a free transfer from Liverpool this month, a move that has boosted local excitement while raising the club’s financial pressure to qualify for the Europa League group stage rather than drop into the Conference League.