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Samsunspor will take on Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 on today, as the Turkish club looks to build an advantage before the return match in Spain.
The match will be played at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time. Romanian referee Marian Barbu will oversee the fixture, which will be broadcast live in Türkiye on TRT 1.
Samsunspor aims to make the most of home support in the first leg, hoping to head into the away match with a favorable result as the two-legged tie determines which team advances to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa Conference League, the continent’s third-tier European club competition organized by UEFA.
Club officials view the home match as a key opportunity to shape the tie. Samsunspor football director Fuat Capa stressed that the team must turn the home crowd into an advantage and approach the encounter with the broader two-leg context in mind.
He pointed out that although the Spanish side currently sits in the lower half of its domestic league, recent performances suggest a strong and competitive squad. According to Capa, both teams share similar tactical structures and playing styles, which could make the matchup closely contested.
Capa underlined that the goal is to secure a positive result before traveling to Spain, noting that a strong collective performance would help the team head into the second leg with confidence.
Samsunspor will enter the match with several unavailable players. Elayis Tavsan and Yalcin Kayan cannot be selected because they were not included in the club’s official UEFA squad list, making them ineligible for the competition.
In addition, injuries will keep Jaures Assoumou and Bedirhan Cetin out of the match.
Several other players have recently returned to training after long injury layoffs, including Emre Kilinc, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa. However, the coaching staff will decide whether they are ready to take part in the match, as the club remains cautious about rushing players back too quickly.
Capa explained that while some players have resumed training with the team, that does not necessarily mean they are fully match fit, adding that any decision to use them would depend on the course of the game.
Today’s match will also mark Samsunspor’s 21st appearance in European club competitions.
The Turkish side previously competed twice in the now-defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup and returned to European competition this season after a 27-year absence. Across those matches, Samsunspor has recorded 11 wins, two draws and seven defeats.
The Rayo Vallecano match will be the club’s 11th European fixture of the current campaign.
Samsunspor initially began the season in the UEFA Europa League qualifying playoffs but dropped into the Conference League after losing to Panathinaikos. The Turkish team then finished 12th in the league phase before advancing to the round of 16 playoffs, where it eliminated KF Shkendija with victories in both legs.
Now facing Rayo Vallecano in the round of 16, Samsunspor will look to turn its home fixture into a decisive step toward the quarterfinals.
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