Of the twelve teams who have come within a step of the group stage of the next Champions League and will battle it out over the next two weeks for the six remaining passes, Copenhagen and Trabzonspor are the only two to make their direct playoff debuts. Respectively reigning champions Denmark and Turkey, both willingly dispensed with the tiring – and dangerous – qualifying rounds.
And it is no coincidence that this is shaping up to be one of the most balanced and uncertain playoffs, between two ambitious clubs who have several players from Serie A (Diks, Vavro, Lerager on one side and Vitor Hugo, Hamsik, Bruno Peres and Cornelius on the other). Those who will have more minutes in their legs – and consequently a better condition – are certainly Jess Thorup’s Copenhagen: the Danish Superligaen started in mid-July, but after five matches Jensen and his teammates are only in seventh place, with barely six points from five games. It has been a slow start, unexpectedly disappointing and characterised by contrasting results: last weekend Copenhagen suffered their second home defeat, collapsing 3-1 against Randers.
Trabzonspor, on the other hand, got off to a rocket start, returning to the Turkish roof after thirty-eight years since the last time. Abdullah Avci’s men took two wins out of two against Istanbulspor and Hatayspor, scoring a total of three goals while keeping their goals unbroken. By the end of July, the second trophy of 2022 had also arrived, namely the Super Cup against Sivasspor, which they swept away with a roundabout 4-0.
Abdullah Avci ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
If we had to base ourselves on the latest results, we would say Trabzonspor. Although we have to take into account the level the Turkish champions have encountered so far. The feeling is that they will manage to avoid defeat in Denmark, and then play it all out in front of their own warm public. The total goals will most likely be at least two.
Copenhagen-Trabzonspor matchday squad
COPENAGHEN (4-1-4-1): Johnsson; Diks, Vavro, Khocholava, Kristiansen; Jensen; Haraldsson, Lerager, Claesson, Daramy; Biel.
TRABZONSPOR (4-1-4-1): Cakir; Larsen, Denswil, Vitor Hugo, Elmali; Siopis; Visca, Haspolat, Bakasetas, Trezeguet; Cornelius.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
