Samsunspor vs Shkendija – News and Probable Lineups

The Turkish side Samsunspor will look to take advantage of their first-leg lead when they take on Macedonian champions KF Shkendija at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Thursday night, with a place in the last 16 of the Conference League on the line.

The Red Lightning hold a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first match in Skopje, thanks to a goal from Marius Mouandilmadji in the 77th minute, and are now set on closing out the tie at home.

Match overview

Samsunspor began their Conference League campaign impressively, winning their first three matches while netting seven times without conceding.

However, they saw a significant drop-off, failing to win any of their last three league-phase matches (D1, L2), ultimately finishing 12th and unable to secure automatic qualification for the last 16.

A similar trend was evident in their domestic campaign, where they also started well in the Turkish Super Lig before results took a turn for the worse, leading to the sacking of Thomas Reis and the hiring of Thorsten Fink.

The new head coach has had a solid beginning, overseeing the triumph in the first leg against Shkendija, but last weekend’s draw without goals against bottom-placed Fatih Karagumruk highlighted the ongoing struggle for consistency.

On a positive note for the home side, their form at home in this tournament has been impressive, with two of their victories in the league phase coming with commanding 3-0 margins, and their only defeat at the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu being a tight 2-1 loss against AEK Athens, suggesting they are well-prepared to defend their slender lead.

On the other hand, Shkendija will face a tough challenge, having lost all three of their away matches in the league phase without scoring a single goal, which underscores the difficulty they are up against.

The visitors just about progressed to the playoff round, finishing 22nd with two wins, one draw, and three defeats in the league phase, advancing only due to a better goal difference.

Nevertheless, the Ballists come into this fixture with strong domestic form, having claimed victory in their last five league matches, including all three played in 2026.

A thrilling last-gasp winner by Arbin Zejnullai over the weekend provided a prompt reply to the first-leg loss and should instill confidence in Jeton Beqiri’s squad as they aim to make history in their inaugural appearance in the main draw of a major UEFA tournament.

Team News

Samsunspor are missing a number of key players, with Bedirhan Cetin and Tanguy Coulibaly both out due to knee injuries.

Afonso Sousa continues his recovery from an ankle issue, while Emre Kilinc is sidelined with a calf injury, and both Tahsin Bulbul and Elayis Taxn are also likely to be unavailable for this match.

Conversely, Shkendija are nearing full strength, as Liridon Latifi and Aleksander Trumci return from suspension after missing the first leg, providing a significant boost.

Veteran forward Besart Ibraimi, who is yet to find the net in this season’s competition, is expected to spearhead the attack as the visitors look to overturn the deficit.

Samsunspor probable starting XI:

Whisker; Yavru, Sakta, Drongelen, Thomasson; Makoumbou, Ntcham; Hired, Holse, Mendes; Who

Shkendija probable starting XI:

Gaye; Murat, Fetai, Meljichi, Webster; Ramadani, Alhassan; Spahiu, Zejnullai, Tamba; Ibrahim

With a slight advantage, Samsunspor will likely feel assured about their chances of advancing given their solid performances at home in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Shkendija has had considerable difficulties on the road in Europe, with three defeats in the away league phase where they failed to register a goal – although the visitors may exert more effort than in the first leg, the organization and support of the Turkish club should ultimately prove decisive.