Sports
Trump calls NBA superstar LeBron James ‘total disgrace’
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NBA superstar LeBron James on Thursday for what he called disrespectful behavior during the singing of the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener.
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said in a social media post accompanied by a video showing James moving his body during the singing of the anthem.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” he said, calling for the star to “apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as The Star-Spangled Banner was performed at Tuesday’s game in New York. James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
Trump has repeatedly criticized athletes for their behavior during pre-game renditions of the U.S. national anthem, notably beginning with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest in support of racial justice.
Trump canceled a planned White House visit of the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 after the team disagreed with his call for players to stand during the anthem.
James became a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and has frequently supported progressive issues as he ascended to the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
James had not made a public comment or a social media post as of Thursday afternoon about Trump’s gripe.
The two have been critical of each other for years, occasionally trading public swipes.
The 41-year-old James, in his record 24th NBA season, was set to make his home debut for the Sixers Thursday night against Cleveland.
Among some of the more notable times James became entangled with the president or politics.
James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement during an NBA game with his shoes – one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each.
Then, after the game, James made a statement about Trump, saying: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
James had called Trump “a bum” and also said earlier that season of the president: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
James showed determination to speak out on social issues and the nation’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the four-time NBA champion for his 2018 comments about social issues.
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said. “I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
James referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who previously spoke up for equality and change with no concerns about the consequences or any rewards.
“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.
At the peak of Black Lives Matter, James helped convince many who had never voted to finally head to the polls.
“I still know what I do on the floor and obviously, I give everything to the game,” James said. “But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”
AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview. Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
James, naturally, rejected the criticism.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.
Beşiktaş fought back and played the last stretch with 10 men to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
The Premier League side were the better side for much of the first half, but Wilfred Ndidi gave the hosts the lead in first-half stoppage time. Yeremy Pino leveled six minutes after the restart.
Four minutes later, Jean-Philippe Mateta, on his first start since the opening day, put the visitors ahead. He had already had a first-half goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside in the build-up.
Beşiktaş equalized in the 73rd minute through Junior Olaitan. Four minutes later, Ümit Akdağ was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Jorgen Strand Larsen, who was forced off injured.
The English side still failed to make use of a one-man advantage.
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano made nine changes to the Süper Lig side that lost to Trabzonspor on Monday. Palace arrived after a 5-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday.
Trabzonspor maintains perfect Conference League record
In the Conference League, Mohamed Salah marked his 150th game in European competitions by scoring again and setting up another goal as Trabzonspor beat Scottish side Hearts 2-0 at home.
It was the second goal for Salah in the competition after netting in the 4-2 win away at KuPS Kuopio in the opener.
It was Trabzonspor’s fifth straight win under head coach Thomas Reis.
Hearts started on the bright side and hit the post in the seventh minute through Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s header from a Calvin Miller corner.
Trabzonspor then took control. In the 30th minute, Franculino was fouled in the box by Tomas Magnusson, and Salah converted the penalty two minutes later, sending goalkeeper Beau Reus the wrong way.
Benjamin Bouchouari twice came close to a second before the break, volleying over and then being denied by Reus in stoppage time.
The second came in the 58th minute, when Franculino exchanged passes with Salah and fired a first-time left-footed shot into the top corner.
Trabzonspor’s Sidny Cabral was sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Hearts, who had drawn 1-1 with Nordsjaelland on matchday one, were beaten 7-1 by Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Bournemouth beat 10-man Milan, Juventus held to draw
Elsewhere, Bournemouth earned the biggest win of their first European campaign by beating 10-man AC Milan 3-0 in the Europa League after goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off for shoving an opponent in the face during a corner.
Bournemouth had already taken the lead from a penalty when Maignan was shown a straight red card and conceded another spot kick by putting his gloves in the face of U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams and pushing him to the ground.
Marcus Tavernier converted the second penalty against substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani to double the lead, and there was no way back for Milan after that. Substitute Amine Adli made it 3-0 late with a perfectly executed curling free kick.
Four other teams also have three wins from three, including Bayer Leverkusen after Jonas Hofmann scored twice in a three-minute span to secure a 2-0 victory at OFI Crete.
But Juventus were held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes after having a late winner ruled out for offside.
Hofmann netted his double late in the first half as Leverkusen continued their good start under new coach Carles Martínez, who has now overseen seven wins from eight games across all competitions since starting with a shock loss to Elversberg.
Ferencvaros also stayed perfect after a 4-1 victory over Portuguese second-division side Torreense.
In a clash of two unbeaten teams, Benfica won 4-1 at Omonia while Olympiacos needed a late own goal to secure their third straight win, 1-0 win over Sparta Prague.
Nick Woltemade converted from the spot in the 67th minute to salvage a 2-2 home draw for Juventus against Rennes, but the hosts had a potential winner by Jhon Lucumi ruled out by VAR.
It was Woltemade’s third goal in three games in the competition after joining on loan from Newcastle.
The Bianconeri pressured early and took the lead on a quick attack after Zeki Çelik collected a through pass from Woltemade. But Musa Al-Taamari equalized and Boulaye Dia calmly gave the visitors the lead from the spot, sending Juve goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way.
Like Juve, Sunderland hoped to make it three wins from three on a trip to Lech Poznan. Forward Timur Tutierov put the Premier League side ahead with a header with his first Europa League goal in the second minute, but substitute Leo Bengtsson made it 1-1 in the second half to earn a first point for the Polish club.
In other results, Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo, Hoffenheim got their first points with a 3-0 win over Ligue 1 leader Lyon and Real Sociedad had the biggest win of the night, 6-0 at Lillestrom.
Earlier, Marseille recorded a third straight loss, 1-0 to Sturm Graz, while Union Saint-Gilloise routed Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva 4-0. That game was played without fans in Düsseldorf, Germany, after authorities in Leuven, Belgium, refused to host it due to public safety.
In the Conference League, Czech provincial side Jablonec kept high-scoring Brighton at bay in a 0-0 draw, as last season’s Europa League runners-up Freiburg failed to build on their win in the opener and were beaten 3-0 at Monaco, while Ajax snuck a 2-0 win over Atalanta.
Turkish rider Deniz Öncü will target a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend as he looks to improve his results in the 2026 Moto2 World Championship.
The 23-year-old will compete for ELF Marc VDS Racing Team at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the 18th round of the season, according to the Turkish Motorcycle Federation (TMF).
Öncü will begin his weekend with free practice on Friday before Saturday’s qualifying session determines the starting grid for Sunday’s 23-lap race. The main event is scheduled to start at 4:15 a.m. Türkiye time.
The 4.448-kilometer (2.764-mile) circuit, renowned for its fast corners and coastal setting, will host the Australian Grand Prix for the final time before the event moves to a new street circuit in Adelaide in 2027.
Öncü has fond memories of Phillip Island, having won the Moto3 race there in 2023. He claimed three victories in the lightweight category before moving up to Moto2, where he is now seeking to regain the form that made him a race winner last season.
The Turkish rider secured two victories in 2025, at the Aragon and German Grands Prix and finished the championship in 12th place with 100 points. However, his first full season with ELF Marc VDS has proved more difficult as he adjusts to a new team and motorcycle.
After 17 rounds, Öncü sits 15th in the standings with 47.5 points. He finished 22nd at the Indonesian Grand Prix after starting 25th on the grid, leaving him eager to deliver a stronger performance in Australia.
Manuel González leads the championship with 265.5 points, followed by Izan Guevara on 260. Iván Ortolá is third with 191.5 points, while Daniel Holgado, David Alonso and Australian rider Senna Agius complete the top six.
Phillip Island’s flowing layout, unpredictable winds and high-speed corners can create a demanding test for riders, with qualifying position likely to be important in the fight for a competitive result.
Öncü will be Türkiye’s sole representative in the MotoGP paddock this weekend following Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s season-ending injury in Indonesia.
Türkiye has appointed Sergen Yalçın as its new national team coach on a four-year contract, entrusting the former international with leading the team into a new era following the departure of Vincenzo Montella.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) held a signing ceremony at the Orhan Saka Conference Hall at the Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities, attended by federation president Ibrahim Hacıosmanoğlu and members of the board.
Yalçın, who previously played for Türkiye and has experience managing Turkish clubs, returns to the national setup in one of the most significant appointments of his coaching career.
Hacıosmanoğlu expressed confidence in the new coach, describing the appointment as an important step toward building a stronger national team and emphasizing the value of having a Turkish manager lead the side for the first time in five years.
He also paid tribute to Montella, thanking the Italian for his contributions to Turkish football and wishing him success in his future career.
“Today, we are experiencing the joy and pride of entrusting our national team to a Turkish coach again after five years,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “Sergen Yalçın is one of the most valuable figures produced by Turkish football, known to everyone. His playing career, coaching experience, knowledge of the game and leadership qualities make him a strong candidate to take on this responsibility.”
The federation president said Yalçın’s familiarity with Turkish football and its players would give the national team an advantage, particularly in assessing their abilities, personalities and potential for development.
Hacıosmanoğlu added that the decision was based not only on Yalçın’s technical qualifications but also on his sense of national duty and commitment to a shared objective.
He praised the coach for not prioritizing financial considerations when accepting the position, describing it as evidence of his dedication to the national team and his desire to serve the country.
“For us, the national team stands above all personal expectations,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “When it comes to the crescent-and-star jersey, our priority is to represent our country in the best possible way, make our nation proud and unite around common goals.”
He said the federation wanted to establish a team capable of achieving sustained success and competing consistently at the highest international level rather than focusing on short-term results.
Hacıosmanoğlu acknowledged that achieving those ambitions would require collective effort from the coaching staff, players, federation and supporters. He pledged to provide Yalçın with the conditions necessary to work effectively and reiterated his belief that the new coach could bring out the best in the squad.
“Most important day”
Yalçın described the appointment as a defining moment, thanking Hacıosmanoğlu and the federation’s board for placing their trust in him.
“During my playing career, I wore the crescent-and-star jersey many times. I tried to serve with great honor,” Yalçın said. “Today is the most important day of my career.”
The former international said the national team represented a value greater than any individual and expressed optimism about the period ahead.
“We are talking about something that stands above all of us, and that is the crescent and star,” he said. “We will experience very successful days from now on. We are making all our plans accordingly. Hopefully, this will be good for our country.”
Yalçın also stressed the importance of unity, saying the team would need to stand together to achieve its objectives.
“We have a great need for unity and togetherness,” he said. “I hope wonderful days lie ahead of us.”
Hacıosmanoğlu backs Yalçın
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, Hacıosmanoğlu expanded on the reasoning behind the appointment, insisting that Montella’s contribution should not be overlooked while explaining why the federation opted for a Turkish coach.
He said the federation could have appointed another foreign manager but welcomed the opportunity to place the national team under Turkish leadership.
Hacıosmanoğlu also revealed that Yalçın had not featured on the candidate lists circulating before the appointment. He said his decision to approach the former coach directly reflected his confidence in Yalçın’s character, intelligence and work ethic.
“We prepared six or seven lists, and everyone put forward candidates, but Sergen Yalçın was not on any of them,” Hacıosmanoğlu said. “I trust his character and his courage. His intelligence is something else. If he combines that intelligence with hard work, I believe he can achieve outstanding success by acting as both a coach and an older brother to the players.”
According to Hacıosmanoğlu, Yalçın accepted the responsibility with the understanding that representing the country was an honor in itself.
The federation president said he hoped the new coach would demonstrate his capabilities through hard work and results, adding that he understood Yalçın’s character and the responsibilities he had carried since his early years in Turkish football.
Hacıosmanoğlu acknowledged the pressure that comes with managing the national team but said he had complete confidence in Yalçın’s ability to handle the challenge.
“The responsibility of being the national team’s coach is something entirely different,” he said. “I have unlimited faith that he will succeed.”
He added that the federation’s responsibility was to ensure Yalçın could concentrate on his work without unnecessary distractions, stressing that the entire organization would need to work harder to help the national team progress.
Beşiktaş will look to maintain their perfect start to the UEFA Europa League when they host Crystal Palace at Tüpraş Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday, with the Turkish side hoping to turn their home dominance into another European victory.
Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Türkiye time.
Beşiktaş have won their opening two league-phase matches, defeating Olympique de Marseille 4-1 at home before edging Hoffenheim 3-2 away last week. Another victory would strengthen their position among the leading teams in the 36-team standings and extend their impressive European run.
The Black Eagles have scored seven goals in their first two matches, making them one of the competition’s most prolific sides at this stage. Their attacking form has helped establish them as early contenders, although their most recent domestic outing offered a reminder that maintaining consistency across competitions remains a challenge.
Vincenzo Italiano’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig last weekend, ending their winning run across competitions. The result left Beşiktaş fifth in the domestic standings after eight matches, four points behind leaders Galatasaray.
Thursday’s return to Dolmabahçe offers an opportunity to respond immediately, particularly given their outstanding record in front of their own supporters.
Tüpraş the fortress
Beşiktaş have won all eight of their home matches this season across the Süper Lig and European competitions, establishing Tüpraş Stadium as a formidable venue for visiting teams.
Their domestic victories include a 1-0 win over Eyüpspor, a 6-2 triumph against Arca Çorum FK, a 3-0 victory over Erzurumspor FK and a 2-1 result against Kocaelispor.
In Europe, they have beaten Midtjylland 1-0, Hradec Kralove 1-0, Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 and Marseille 4-1 at home. Across those eight matches, Beşiktaş have scored 21 goals and conceded just four.
Their European form has been equally encouraging away from Istanbul. Beşiktaş progressed through the qualifying rounds by eliminating Midtjylland and Hradec Králové before overcoming Kauno Zalgiris in the playoffs. They won seven of their eight European matches, including qualifiers, before Thursday’s encounter.
The Turkish side have also won their last four European home matches and could reach five consecutive home victories in UEFA competition for the first time with a win over Palace.
Beşiktaş have started the main phase of a UEFA competition with two victories on only three previous occasions, in the 1986-87 European Cup, the 2010-11 Europa League and the 2017-18 Champions League. Their current campaign gives them another opportunity to build on that record.
South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu was instrumental in last week’s victory over Hoffenheim, scoring twice late in the game to secure all three points after an eventful second half.
Orkun Kökçü ruled out
Beşiktaş captain Orkun Kökçü will miss the Palace match as he continues to recover from a foot injury sustained during the Europa League victory over Hoffenheim.
The midfielder also missed Sunday’s defeat to Trabzonspor and is targeting a return next month, leaving Italiano without one of his key midfield options for the European fixture.
Winger Milot Rashica is another absentee. He is sidelined with a hamstring injury and has been left out of Beşiktaş’s Europa League squad.
Serbian striker Dušan Vlahovic, meanwhile, is competing with Oh for a starting place in attack. Vlahovic has scored six goals in as many Süper Lig appearances but missed the Hoffenheim match through illness and has yet to score in the Europa League this season.
Beşiktaş will need their attacking options to maintain their scoring form against a Palace side that has struggled defensively in recent weeks.
Palace pressure
Crystal Palace travel to Istanbul seeking to halt a run of defeats after a difficult start to their domestic and European campaigns.
The reigning UEFA Conference League champions began their Europa League campaign with a commanding 4-0 home victory over Lech Poznan, but their momentum has since stalled. They lost 3-2 away to Lyon last week despite second-half goals from Yeremy Pino and Daichi Kamada.
Their European setback was followed by a damaging 5-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday. Palace conceded three goals in the opening 10 minutes, suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their history against their south-coast rivals.
Manager Pierre Sage described his reaction to the Brighton loss as one of shame, highlighting the disappointment surrounding the team’s performance.
Palace have won only two of their first seven Premier League matches, drawing one and losing four. They sit 14th in the table with seven points, while their 17 goals conceded represent the highest total in the division at this stage.
The London club will also be looking to improve their away form. They have won only two of their last 11 matches on the road across all competitions, drawing three and losing six. They have conceded at least twice in nine of those fixtures.
Their challenge against Beşiktaş will therefore test both their defensive organization and their ability to respond after consecutive defeats.
Palace face defensive selection questions
Palace could make changes to their backline as they attempt to address the defensive problems exposed against Brighton and Lyon.
Chadi Riad remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson, defender Ben Chilwell and fullback Takehiro Tomiyasu are due to have their respective foot, knee and calf injuries assessed after missing the Brighton match.
Axel Disasi is available again after serving a domestic suspension and could return to the starting lineup. He is an option to join Jaydee Canvot and Chris Richards in a three-man defense.
Oscar Mingueza is also pushing for a place at right wing-back, potentially replacing Anan Khalaili.
Further forward, Pino could feature alongside Ismaïla Sarr and Jorgen Strand Larsen as Palace seek a response in attack. Pino and Kamada helped make the Lyon match competitive after the break, but their efforts were not enough to prevent defeat.
Former Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and defender Emmanuel Agbadou are among Beşiktaş’s other potential options as Italiano considers his lineup.
Sergen Yalçın will officially begin his tenure as Türkiye national team head coach with a signing ceremony tomorrow after being appointed on a four-year contract to replace Vincenzo Montella following the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign and four consecutive UEFA Nations League defeats.
According to a statement from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), the ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. local time Thursday at the Orhan Saka Conference Hall at the TFF’s Hasan Doğan National Teams Camp and Training Facilities in Riva. TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu is expected to attend.
The federation confirmed Yalçın’s appointment on Oct. 20 following a board meeting. The 53-year-old becomes the 48th head coach in the senior national team’s history and the 27th Turkish manager to hold the position. He is the first Turkish coach to lead the team since Abdullah Avcı’s departure in 2013.
Yalçın’s appointment follows Montella’s dismissal on Oct. 9 after Türkiye’s World Cup campaign ended in the group stage and the team lost its first four Nations League matches, including defeats against France, Belgium and Italy twice.
Montella, who took charge in September 2023, had overseen a period of considerable progress. Türkiye reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time in 24 years and earned promotion to UEFA Nations League A. However, the subsequent run of defeats left the team bottom of its group without a point, prompting the federation to make a change.
Yalçın publicly confirmed his appointment on Tuesday, describing the opportunity to lead the national team as a source of pride. He said representing the country carried special meaning and that financial considerations were secondary to the importance of the role. He also indicated that his four-year deal was structured around the next European Championship and World Cup cycles.
Born in Istanbul on Nov. 5, 1972, Yalçın is a prominent figure in Turkish football. He developed in Beşiktaş’s youth system and later played for all four of the country’s traditional major clubs: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor.
As a player, he won league titles and Turkish Cups and made 37 appearances for Türkiye between 1994 and 2003, scoring five goals. He also represented the country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2000.
Yalçın began his coaching career in 2013 and has managed several Süper Lig clubs, including Gaziantepspor, Sivasspor, Kayserispor, Eskişehirspor, Konyaspor, Alanyaspor, Yeni Malatyaspor, Antalyaspor and Beşiktaş.
His most successful spell came in the 2020-21 season, when he led Beşiktaş to the Süper Lig title and Turkish Cup, becoming the first person in the club’s history to win the league championship as both a player and a coach. He returned for a second spell at the Istanbul club in August 2025, but the tenure ended by mutual consent in May 2026.
Yalçın is expected to bring several members of his Beşiktaş coaching staff into the national team setup, including assistants Murat Kaytaz and Ozan Köprülü, alongside specialists in performance, analysis and goalkeeping.
The new coach has also indicated that he intends to speak with players who lost their places under Montella, including goalkeeper Berke Özer, as he evaluates his options and reshapes the squad.
Türkiye’s coaching history includes several managers who delivered landmark international achievements. Fatih Terim, who led the team across four spells between 1990 and 2017, holds the record for the most matches in charge with 135 and the most victories, with 70, including one awarded by forfeit.
Terim guided Türkiye to its first European Championship finals at Euro 1996 and the semifinals at Euro 2008. Mustafa Denizli led the team to the Euro 2000 quarterfinals, while Şenol Güneş took Türkiye to the 2002 World Cup, where it finished third, and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, where it also claimed third place.
Trabzonspor will look to extend their winning streak to five matches when they host Scottish side Hearts in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, aiming to build on an impressive start to the league phase and strengthen their position in the competition.
The matchday two fixture will kick off at 7:45 p.m. local time at Papara Park.
Trabzonspor opened their European campaign with a 4-2 away victory over Finland’s KuPS Kuopio and will seek another three points in front of their home supporters.
Hearts, meanwhile, are looking to respond after surrendering a first-half lead in a 1-1 draw with Danish side Nordsjaelland in their opening match.
The Scottish visitors arrive in Türkiye following a heavy 7-1 defeat to Celtic, leaving them eager to restore their confidence against a Trabzonspor side that has found its scoring touch under new manager Thomas Reis.
Rhythm under Reis
Trabzonspor’s recent revival marks a sharp turnaround from a difficult opening to the 2026-27 season.
The Black Sea club struggled for consistency in their first seven competitive matches, recording just two victories before a series of disappointing results exposed their defensive weaknesses.
Their European campaign initially took a hit in the Europa League qualifying rounds, where they suffered a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Ferencvaros, including a 4-0 loss in the second leg. A subsequent 2-1 defeat to Amed Sportif Faaliyetler in the Turkish Süper Lig led to the departure of coach Fatih Tekke.
Hüseyin Çimşir took charge on an interim basis, recording one victory and one defeat before Reis was appointed permanently.
The new coach has since won all four of his competitive matches, overseeing a dramatic improvement in both attack and defense.
Trabzonspor have scored 13 goals and conceded only twice during that run, highlighted by a commanding 4-0 victory over Galatasaray and their 4-2 win against KuPS in the Conference League opener.
The Turkish side will look to maintain that momentum against Hearts, with Mohamed Salah emerging as a key attacking threat.
The winger has scored nine goals in 11 appearances since arriving in Türkiye, providing a consistent source of goals as Trabzonspor seek to make their mark in Europe.
However, Trabzonspor face several injury concerns. Arseniy Batagov, Paul Onuachu and young goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan are among those sidelined, while Okay Yokuşlu and Ruslan Malinovskyi are also unavailable.
Fabinho is expected to retain his place in midfield alongside Ozan Tufan, while Chibuike Nwaiwu and Stefan Savic could form the central defensive partnership.
Hearts seek response after Celtic humiliation
Hearts travel to Trabzonspor under pressure to recover from one of their most damaging results of the season, having conceded seven goals in a 7-1 defeat to Celtic at the weekend.
The Edinburgh club had shown greater defensive stability in the preceding matches, conceding just four goals across five games before their collapse against the Scottish champions. The defeat exposed significant problems at the back and left manager Wouter Vrancken with decisions to make ahead of the trip to Türkiye.
Despite that setback, Hearts had been building a respectable run of results after losing their first four matches of the season. Their record over the subsequent 14 games stood at seven wins, five draws and two defeats, suggesting the Celtic loss was a significant departure from their recent form.
Hearts also showed promise in their Conference League opener against Nordsjaelland. They took a 1-0 lead after a dominant first half but failed to maintain control, eventually conceding a late equalizer to Nicklas Rojkjaer.
The Scottish side will now seek their first victory in the league phase while attempting to end a three-match winless run away from home.
Injuries remain a concern for Vrancken, with Blair Spittal, Ageu, Tom Renaud and Craig Halkett unavailable. Following the heavy loss to Celtic, the coach could make several changes to his starting lineup, potentially giving Stuart Findlay, James Wilson and Tomas Magnusson opportunities to feature.
Trabzonspor’s return
Thursday’s encounter will be Trabzonspor’s 159th match in European competition and their 10th in the Conference League.
The Turkish club have recorded 57 wins, 39 draws and 62 defeats in their first 158 European matches, scoring 198 goals and conceding 216 since making their continental debut in the 1976-77 season.
Their European history includes 30 matches in the European Cup and UEFA Champions League, 99 in the UEFA Cup and Europa League, 12 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, eight in the Intertoto Cup and nine in the Conference League.
Trabzonspor have won two, drawn four and lost three of their nine Conference League matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding 14. A victory over Hearts would give them an opportunity to improve that record while strengthening their position in the league phase.
The fixture also marks Trabzonspor’s first meeting with Scottish opposition in 29 years. Their previous encounter came against Dundee United in the 1997-98 UEFA Cup, when they won the first leg 1-0 and drew the return match 1-1 to advance.
A European history
Trabzonspor’s continental history includes memorable victories over some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
They defeated Liverpool 1-0 during the 1976-77 season, beat Inter Milan by the same score in 1983-84 and overcame Barcelona 1-0 in 1990-91, with all three victories coming at Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium.
The club repeated their success against Inter on the road on Sept. 14, 2011, winning 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Trabzonspor’s biggest European victory came in the 2007-08 Intertoto Cup, when they thrashed Albania’s Vllaznia 6-0 at home.
Their heaviest defeat, however, came against Barcelona in the 1990-91 Cup Winners’ Cup. After winning the first leg 1-0, Trabzonspor lost the return match 7-2 away from home.
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