Rizespor Hosts Trabzonspor in Trendyol Super Lig Black Sea Derby

The Turkish Super Lig delivers an exciting Black Sea derby on Monday, October 26, 2026, as Çaykur Rizespor prepares to host Trabzonspor at the Caykur Didi Stadyumu. Kick-off for the round nine fixture is scheduled for 19.00 local time, with live television coverage provided by beIN Sports 1 and streaming available through official digital platforms.

Trabzonspor enters the match under the management of Thomas Reis, who took charge on September 17 and has since guided the team through a stellar five-game winning streak across all competitions. The visitors currently sit in fourth place in the standings with 16 points from eight matches, boasting a formidable defensive record and the league's top scorer, Mohamed Salah, who has netted eight goals this season. A victory would allow Trabzonspor to move within a single point of the league summit.

Conversely, Rizespor faces an uphill battle as they search for their first home points of the season. Currently positioned 13th in the league table with 10 points, Recep Uçar’s side has struggled immensely on home turf, suffering three consecutive defeats at Caykur Didi Stadyumu without scoring a single goal. Rizespor comes into the match following a 2-1 away loss to Çorum on October 16, where Qazim Laçi scored their lone goal before a late winner decided the match.

Historically, Trabzonspor holds a significant advantage in the fixture, claiming 31 victories out of 49 all-time meetings against Rizespor, alongside nine draws and nine losses. Trabzonspor has also won the last four encounters between the two clubs. However, Rize has occasionally proven to be a difficult venue for the visitors, with Trabzonspor suffering losses at the stadium in previous seasons before securing a 2-1 victory there in October 2025.

Both teams face notable squad challenges heading into the derby. Trabzonspor's injury list includes Paul Onuachu, who is expected to miss out due to a thigh issue, while Noah Saviolo and Stefan Savić remain doubts. Goalkeeper André Onana was cleared after a routine check following a minor road traffic accident earlier in the week and is anticipated to feature. Rizespor will be missing Khusniddin Alikulov and Ahmed Kutucu, though Attila Mocsi and Can Bozdoğan have returned to training.

Tactically, Rizespor is expected to deploy a 4-1-4-1 formation with Taylan Antalyalı shielding the back four and Ali Sowe leading the attack. Trabzonspor is likely to counter with a 4-2-3-1 setup, utilizing Fabinho and Ozan Tufan in defensive midfield positions while positioning Mohamed Salah on the right flank to test the Rizespor defense.

As the two Black Sea rivals prepare to take the pitch, referee Halil Umut Meler will officiate the encounter. With Trabzonspor looking to sustain its winning momentum under Reis and Rizespor desperately seeking a breakthrough performance in front of their home supporters, the match promises to be a compelling battle in the upper and middle tiers of the Super Lig table.