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Türkiye's Samsunspor will host Malta’s Hamrun Spartans in the third week of the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, aiming to continue a strong start in the European competition. The match will be played at Samsun Yeni 19 Mayis Stadium at 8:45 p.m. local time.
Ahead of the match, Hamrun Spartans head coach Giacomo Modica and defender Ognjen Bjelicic spoke at a press conference at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayis Stadium.
Modica said he was satisfied with his team’s overall performance despite losing the previous two Conference League matches. He noted that Samsunspor may not be widely known in Europe, but he considered them a strong opponent with effective players on the wings and in defense. He stated that his side would “fight for points” and added, “We want to get our first win.”
Defender Bjelicic underlined that the team respected Samsunspor but did not fear the challenge, explaining that they were fully prepared and determined to compete.
Samsunspor is playing in European competitions for the third time, having previously appeared twice in the Intertoto Cup. The club returned to continental football after finishing third in the league last season.
In the Conference League group phase, the team has started strongly, defeating Legia Warsaw away and Dinamo Kyiv at home. With two wins, Samsunspor currently stands among the upper positions in the 36-team league stage.
Across 14 European matches so far, the club has recorded eight wins, one draw and five losses.
Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Capa emphasized the importance of Thursday’s match, explaining that a win could secure the team a place in the top 24 of the Conference League standings. He noted that Hamrun Spartans play with a compact defensive structure and quick transitions, pointing out that the margin in their previous matches was narrow.
Capa highlighted the club’s strong home atmosphere and said that if the stadium reaches full capacity, it could provide meaningful support. He added that positive results in the remaining matches after a win against Hamrun Spartans could push the team further upward in the standings.
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