Shkendija vs Samsunspor – News and Probable Lineups

The Macedonian champions Shkendija are set to clash with the Turkish team Samsunspor in the last 16 of the Conference League on Thursday evening in Skopje.

This first leg of their playoff encounter sees both the Ballists and the Red Lightning reaching the knockout stages for the first time ever, with each side eager to gain an advantage before the return fixture next week.

Match overview

As they entered the final matchday in December with seven points, Jeton Beqiri’s squad could afford to lose 1-0 against AEK Larnaca, scraping through on goal difference.

The Ballists had two wins, one draw, and three losses in their six Conference League group matches, finishing 22nd and qualifying for the playoff rounds on points.

One concern prior to the first leg is that their final defeat in the league phase arguably did not represent their performance well, managing only two shots before going down to ten men shortly after the break.

Since making it to the playoffs for the first time, Beqiri’s side have played only two competitive matches, but they have shown significantly improved form.

Both of these matches took place in the Macedonian First Football League last week, where Shkendija secured a 2-0 victory followed by a resounding 4-1 win, keeping them firmly in the title race, which they won last season.

Overall, the Ballists have had a commendable domestic campaign, securing 13 wins in 18 matches and establishing the best defensive record in the league, allowing just 15 goals.

On the other hand, Samsunspor had a more successful league phase and would have preferred to bypass the playoffs after starting with three straight wins.

However, Thorsten Fink’s squad followed their strong start with a draw and two defeats, dropping them to 12th place in the table and forcing them into the playoffs to advance.

They entered their final league match knowing a victory against Mainz 05 would guarantee a top-eight finish, but a 2-0 loss meant they fell short and will be eager to quickly overcome that disappointment.

Unlike their future opponents, Samsunspor has been more active recently but has struggled to make an impact in their domestic competition.

Fink’s team has started February with two consecutive losses and currently sits eighth in the Turkish Super Lig, trailing 11 points from the European qualification spots.

Samsunspor will look to use this first leg of their Conference League tie to regain some momentum for their domestic matches as they seek to turn their season around.

The Red Lightning can take heart from having lost only once away from home during the league phase, but they know they face a challenging fixture against a Shkendija side that remained unbeaten at home during that span.

Team News

After scoring six goals in their previous two matches, Beqiri might have been inclined to make minimal changes, but he will have to adjust his lineup.

Liridon Latifi received a red card in Shkendija’s last Conference League match, rendering him ineligible for the first leg on Thursday evening.

Arbin Zejnullai was also substituted in the same match due to injury, but he has since recovered and scored in their recent 4-1 triumph, so he is likely to lead the attack alongside captain Besart Ibraimi.

Conversely, Samsunspor will be missing several essential first-team players for this matchup.

Bedirhan Cetin is out with a serious knee injury and will not feature, though he is expected to return soon, while Afonso Sousa is set to be sidelined for an extended period due to an ankle issue.

Similarly, Tanguy Coulibaly is also recovering from a knee injury he suffered in October and will be unavailable, with a return anticipated in March.

Emre Kilinc is ruled out as well due to a calf muscle tear, but he might be fit for the second leg.

Shkendija probable starting XI:

Gaye; Trumci, Fetai, Meljichi, Webster; Spahiu, Ramadani, Alhassan, Mazari; Zeynullai, Ibrahim

Samsunspor probable starting XI:

Whisker; Mendes, Sakta, Drongelen, Gonul; Yuksel, Ntcham; Holse, Cift, Ndiaye; Mouandilmadji

These two teams approach this encounter with differing form in their leagues and have experienced a variety of campaigns in the Conference League thus far. Nevertheless, we anticipate that Samsunspor will secure a victory and head back to Turquia with a two-goal advantage ahead of the return leg next week.