Trabzonspor travel to Rizespor on Monday 26 October sitting third in the Turkish Süper Lig, according to the BBC's league table. The visitors have collected 17 points from nine matches, while the hosts are 13th with 11 points from the same number of games.
The BBC lists Thomas Reis as Trabzonspor's manager and Recep Uçar as Rizespor's. Both starting lineups were published by the broadcaster ahead of the fixture.
Why it matters
The gap between the sides is six points, but their records this season have been built in different ways. Trabzonspor have scored 18 goals and conceded just five across their nine matches, giving them a goal difference of plus 13 — the strongest defensive record shown in the BBC's table. Rizespor, by contrast, have found the net eight times and let in 11, leaving them at minus three.
Trabzonspor's position is also notable for what it means in the wider table. The BBC's key shows third place carrying a UEFA Europa League qualifying spot, with first and second going to the Champions League and its qualifiers respectively. A win on Monday would keep Reis's side in that European conversation; a defeat would leave them looking over their shoulder at the clubs immediately below.
How the two squads line up
The BBC's team sheets show Trabzonspor with André Onana in goal, protected by a back line of Eskihellaç, Stefan Savić — who wears the captain's armband — Nwaiwu and Wagner Pina. Fabinho and Kabasakal are listed as the defensive midfielders, with Şimşir, Muçi and Mohamed Salah operating as attacking midfielders behind striker Franculino Djú.
Rizespor's XI, as published by the BBC, has Fofana in goal behind Ariss, Sagnan, Bakayoko and Pala. Antalyalı captains the side from defensive midfield, with Bulut, Laçi, Olawoyin and Mebude across the midfield and Borrelli leading the attack.
Among the home substitutes named by the BBC are Bozdoğan, Diakité, Doicaru, Görgen, Mihăilă, Mocsi, Sanuç, Sowe, Varešanović and Şahin. Trabzonspor's bench includes Akaydin, Noah Saviolo, Habeşoğlu, Jabol-Folcarelli, Sidny Cabral, Mimaroğlu, Nayir, Tufan, Yıldırım and Özkacar.
What the table says about the season so far
Amed lead the division on 20 points from nine games, one clear of Galatasaray, who have 19 from eight. Trabzonspor's 17 points place them ahead of Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, both on 16, though Fenerbahçe have played a game fewer. Kasımpaşa are level on 16 in sixth.
At the other end, Eyüpspor are bottom with three points, Samsunspor have four and Gençlerbirliği eight. The BBC's table marks 16th, 17th and 18th as relegation places.
Rizespor's recent run, as recorded by the BBC, reads win, loss, win, draw, loss, loss across their last six outings, oldest first. Trabzonspor's sequence over the same span is loss, win, loss, win, win, win — a run that has lifted them into the European places despite an uneven start.
The table was last updated at 16:00 on 26 October 2026, according to the BBC.
What to watch: whether Trabzonspor's defensive record holds against a Rizespor side playing at home, and whether the visitors can keep pace with the leading pair above them.
