Ferencváros - Trabzonspor: the return leg that decides the European autumn
Ferencváros and Trabzonspor meet in Budapest in the second leg of the play-off for a place in the league phase of the Europa League. The home side will have the advantage of familiar surroundings and the stands of the Groupama Aréna, while Trabzonspor enter this tie with a squad that acquired several very high-profile names during the summer.
An important circumstance is the timing at which this guide is being prepared. The first match is played on 20 August in Trabzon, so the exact equation for the return leg will only be known after that encounter. All that can reliably be said before then is that Ferencváros want to finish the job in front of their own supporters, while Trabzonspor coach Fatih Tekke has clearly stated that his team want to arrive in Budapest with a result that gives them an advantage in the return leg.
Ferencváros also have additional security. By eliminating Górnik Zabrze, they have already secured a place in the league phase of a European competition for the eighth consecutive season. Victory in this tie would mean remaining in the Europa League, while defeat would send them into a lower-tier European competition. Trabzonspor, on the other hand, are openly targeting the Europa League itself.
Tickets for this match have been in demand among supporters, while the final stage of qualifying and the return of a familiar Turkish opponent to Budapest give the match additional significance.
Ferencváros have already overcome three European obstacles
Balázs Borbély's team reached Trabzonspor in qualifying by overcoming Vojvodina, Twente and Górnik Zabrze. Ferencváros did not lose any of their first six European qualifying matches - recording four wins and two draws.
The elimination of Twente was particularly valuable. Ferencváros won 2-1 in Enschede with two goals from Lenny Joseph, and then drew 2-2 in Budapest. Against Górnik, they recorded a 1-0 home victory, while the return leg in Zabrze ended 1-1. The Polish team levelled the aggregate score, but Ferencváros managed to score late on to secure progression with a 2-1 aggregate result.
Dénes Dibusz made several important saves in that return leg. After the match, Balázs Borbély particularly emphasised the change in intensity following the introductions of Ádám Nagy, Naby Keita and Callum O'Dowda. That is also a useful indication for the match against Trabzonspor: Ferencváros have enough experience and depth to change a game from the bench, rather than only through the starting line-up.
A few days after eliminating Górnik came the first league win of the season. Ferencváros defeated ZTE FC 1-0 away thanks to a goal from Marius Corbu. After three league matches, they had four points, with one win, one draw and one defeat.
- ZTE FC - Ferencváros 0-1
- Górnik Zabrze - Ferencváros 1-1
- Ferencváros - Real Madrid 1-2, friendly match
- Ferencváros - Górnik Zabrze 1-0
- Ferencváros - Vasas FC 0-0
The results show two things. Ferencváros are not a team that currently wins regularly by large margins, but in European qualifying they have demonstrated an ability to control two-legged ties. Against Górnik they did not excel throughout all 180 minutes, but they survived the most difficult phases and reacted when necessary.
Trabzonspor arrive with Mohamed Salah and Paul Onuachu
The biggest change at Trabzonspor during the summer took place at the beginning of August. Mohamed Salah signed a two-year contract with the club from Trabzon. His arrival automatically changes the way an opponent must prepare defensively: Ferencváros can no longer analyse only Trabzonspor's structure, but must also have a specific plan for a player who can decide a match with a single move.
Ferencváros are fully aware of that. Ahead of the first match, Balázs Borbély said that the opponent is respected but that his team are not afraid of them, while Dénes Dibusz and Cadu spoke publicly specifically about the challenge of stopping Salah. Borbély, however, did not want the entire preparation to be reduced to one player. He stressed that Ferencváros are playing against a complete team and that dropping deep in front of their own penalty area does not in itself provide security.
Trabzonspor also have an extremely dangerous central option in Paul Onuachu. The tall striker was crucial in winning the Turkish cup the previous season - he scored both goals in the 2-1 final victory against Konyaspor. The combination of Salah's play from the flank and Onuachu's presence in the penalty area gives Fatih Tekke two completely different types of threat.
Noah Saviolo is also important in Trabzonspor's new structure. It was he who scored in the 1-1 league draw away at Kasımpaşa, and the day before the first match against Ferencváros he appeared alongside Fatih Tekke at a media conference. Tekke then stressed that he views the tie as a whole consisting of two matches.
Trabzonspor opened the season with a draw away at Kasımpaşa, while their pre-season produced mixed results. They defeated Udinese 1-0, but lost to Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3, Al-Sadd 0-1 and Göztepe 1-2. Friendly matches should not be equated with competitive games, but they show clearly enough that the new team are still searching for consistency.
Absences worth monitoring
Trabzonspor had several health problems during pre-season. Arseniy Batagov underwent surgery on his right knee after a meniscus injury, while reports before the start of the league season also listed Tim Jabol-Folcarelli and Ernest Muçi among the injured players. Their status may change by the return leg in Budapest, so the final list of available players should only be assessed after the first match and the final training sessions.
For Ferencváros, publicly available information at the time this guide is being prepared does not provide an equally reliable and complete list of absentees. Borbély has frequently rotated the squad in recent weeks because of the congested schedule, and against ZTE he rested some of the players who had carried the greatest burden in the European matches.
Where Ferencváros can look for an advantage
Borbély's most important message before the first encounter was that his team must play their own game, maintain their intensity and not allow the opponent's quality to push them completely back towards Dibusz's goal. That is especially important in Budapest.
Against Górnik, Ferencváros showed that they can have problems when they lose aggression in duels and control of midfield. It was precisely the introductions of Nagy and Keita that changed the balance of power in the second half of the return leg in Poland. Against Trabzonspor, that area will be even more sensitive because the Turkish team can move the ball towards their attackers very quickly.
Marius Corbu enters the week of the return leg after scoring the winning league goal against ZTE. Lenny Joseph has already proved that he can decide European matches, particularly with his two goals away against Twente. Kristoffer Zachariassen gives Ferencváros running power and late arrivals from deeper positions, while Dibusz is the final defensive safeguard when the opponent breaks through the first line of pressure.
It will also be important for the home side how they attack the space behind Salah's side of the pitch. If Trabzonspor's most dangerous winger stays high, Ferencváros can try to force his teammates to defend against greater numbers. The risk is obvious: every lost possession in that area can create space precisely for a transition towards Salah.
At Trabzonspor, the other major issue is Onuachu. Ferencváros cannot allow a series of simple crosses towards a striker who can win duels in the penalty area. That means defending begins by pressing the player making the cross, rather than only with the centre-backs reacting after the ball enters the box.
The head-to-head meetings already have a story
Ferencváros and Trabzonspor are not unfamiliar opponents. They met in the European group stage in 2022, with each team winning on their own ground.
In Budapest, Ferencváros won 3-2 despite playing with ten men from the 16th minute. Trabzonspor later won the return match in Turkey 1-0. The overall record from those two matches is therefore completely level: one victory for each side and three goals scored apiece.
For today's squads, the more important fact is that some Ferencváros players already know what it means to play against this opponent. Dibusz and Zachariassen were among the members of that team, and the experience of a match in which Ferencváros preserved victory with ten men is a good illustration of how tactically and emotionally demanding this pairing can be.
History, however, will not answer the question of what the current tie will look like. Trabzonspor have a different coach and a completely different attacking hierarchy, while Ferencváros under Borbély have already overcome three qualifying opponents this summer.
Groupama Aréna: a compact stadium by Népliget
Groupama Aréna opened in 2014 and has 21,689 seats. It is located at Üllői út 129 in Budapest and is the home of Ferencváros. The stadium is compact enough for the stands to remain close to the pitch, something that is particularly noticeable in European matches in which the home supporters try to impose the rhythm from the opening minutes.
For visiting supporters, it is practical that the stadium is very well connected by public transport. Népliget station is located immediately next to the complex and is served by metro line M3 and tram 1. The stadium management states that the journey from the centre of Budapest by public transport is short, so a car is not necessary even for visitors staying in the central city districts.
- Address: Üllői út 129, Budapest.
- Capacity: 21,689 spectators.
- Metro: line M3, Népliget station.
- Tram: line 1, Népliget station.
- For events, parking by the main entrance and in the underground garage is restricted to vehicles with the appropriate access rights, while an additional option is available at MVM Dome.
For drivers, it is therefore smarter to plan the journey in advance rather than count on a free space immediately next to the stadium. Traffic around Üllői út and Könyves Kálmán körút can be considerably slower when large numbers of spectators approach the stadium at the same time.
The exact opening time of the gates for this match has not been confirmed in the verified information. Visitors would be better advised to allow enough time for security checks and finding their section rather than timing their arrival immediately before kick-off.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when Ferencváros play a decisive European match, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
Budapest for supporters arriving from elsewhere
The stadium is located in District IX, southeast of central Budapest. Its position beside Népliget is particularly convenient for travellers arriving in the city by bus, while M3 provides a direct connection towards the central parts of the city.
For a visitor attending a match for the first time, the simplest plan is to travel by public transport, get off at Népliget and cover the final part of the journey on foot. This avoids problems with traffic and parking after the match, when large numbers of people leave the stadium area at the same time.
Supporters who want to spend most of the day in the city do not have to stay in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. Thanks to the metro, it is possible to leave the centre of Budapest for Groupama Aréna later, while still allowing enough extra time to enter the stadium safely.
What kind of atmosphere to expect
Ferencváros have already played several matches in the current qualifying campaign in which the result was decided late. Against Twente they had to protect their advantage from the first match, while against Górnik in Poland they went through a period in which the entire tie was once again completely open. Such experiences usually increase a team's patience, but also the tension in the stands.
Trabzonspor's arrival brings additional intensity. This is a club that finished the previous Turkish season in third place and won the national cup, and this summer they brought in Salah. The return leg therefore cannot be reduced to an ordinary match against a team from qualifying.
Ferencváros will try to use their home energy without losing tactical discipline. Opening the pitch too much would suit Salah's speed and Trabzonspor's transitions. On the other hand, passive play in front of their own penalty area would leave too much space for crosses towards Onuachu.
Much will, of course, depend on the result of the first match in Trabzon. If one team brings an advantage to Budapest, the rhythm of the return leg may be completely different from a situation in which the aggregate score is level. Ferencváros already have experience of managing such situations from the previous qualifying rounds.
Players to watch from the stands
For Ferencváros, the first look goes towards Dibusz. The captain made several saves against Górnik without which the entire tie could have gone in a different direction. In front of him, Cadu has an important dual task - helping to control the flanks while simultaneously taking part in building attacks.
Corbu is currently one of the players giving Ferencváros a concrete threat from deeper positions. Joseph has already scored twice against Twente, while Zachariassen can be important when the match becomes physically demanding and begins to be decided by second balls and off-the-ball runs.
Trabzonspor's names attract more international attention. Salah is the obvious magnet for the defence, but Ferencváros cannot afford to neglect the rest of the attack because of him. Onuachu is a proven finisher in the penalty area, Saviolo has already scored in the first league round, and coach Tekke has enough individual quality at his disposal to change the manner of attack depending on the result.
- Dénes Dibusz - captain and Ferencváros's key last line of defence.
- Lenny Joseph - two goals in the away victory against Twente.
- Marius Corbu - scorer of the goal for the league victory against ZTE.
- Mohamed Salah - Trabzonspor's biggest individual threat following the summer transfer.
- Paul Onuachu - scorer of both Trabzonspor goals in last season's cup final.
What to check immediately before heading to the stadium
The week between the first and second matches can change many things. The result from Trabzon will determine the initial tactics in Budapest, while possible injuries or suspensions can alter the line-ups. For that reason, projected starting elevens before the first match have limited value.
Particular attention should be paid to the fitness of Trabzonspor players who already had problems during the summer, as well as Borbély's decisions after a series of European and league matches. Ferencváros have already shown that the coach will use rotation if he believes the team needs freshness.
The same practical rule applies to visitors: check the latest information about entrances and traffic on the day of the match, use public transport where possible and arrive early enough so that the security check does not become a race against kick-off.
It is worth securing tickets in good time. Regardless of the outcome of the first match, a game will be played at Groupama Aréna that directly determines in which European competition these two teams will continue their season.
Sources:
- Fradi.hu - Ferencváros's current schedule, results against Vojvodina, Twente, Górnik and ZTE, statements by Balázs Borbély and the history of meetings with Trabzonspor.
- Trabzonspor Kulübü - start of the league season, result against Kasımpaşa, friendly matches, statements by Fatih Tekke, Arseniy Batagov's status and confirmation of Mohamed Salah's arrival.
- Trabzonspor Kulübü - information on finishing the previous league season in third place and winning the cup with victory against Konyaspor.
- Groupama Aréna - stadium capacity, year of opening, address, access by M3 metro and tram 1, and parking information.
- Fradi.hu and the European match database - dates of the tie, head-to-head record and results of Ferencváros and Trabzonspor matches from 2022.
- Transfermarkt - current overview of Trabzonspor injuries used exclusively as a supplement to the club's medical information.