Trabzonspor is gearing up to face Iskenderunspor today, February 5th, 2025, at 13:00 local time, as part of the Turkish Cup's A Group stage. The match takes place at the newly opened Iskenderun Fuat Tosyalı Stadium and promises to be eventful, with heavy attendance anticipated from local fans excited to support their home team.
Entering this match, Trabzonspor is aiming to maintain its strong start after defeating Corendon Alanyaspor 3-0 in its previous fixture, currently sitting at the top of Group A. Meanwhile, Iskenderunspor hopes to build on its first group game, which ended in a 1-1 draw against MKE Ankaragücü, positioning itself fourth and eager for victory.
Iskenderunspor's team is set to face the formidable Trabzonspor, which has always been a heavy hitter historically. Iskenderunspor's head coach Metin Akpunar reinforced the match's importance, stating, "Stadyumun açılığını Trabzonspor gibi en iyi takımlardan bir tanesini yapmak çok önemli. Paranın her şeyi satın alamadığı dönemde Trabzonspor damga vurmuş bir kulüp.” This sentiment reflects the pride and excitement of hosting such a prominent opponent.
Trabzonspor's squad includes notable players such as Arsenii Batagov and Danilo Sikan, who will be starting the match, with Oleksandr Zubkov available on the bench due to the match line-up strategy. Captain Erbay Eker expressed confidence, stating, "Trabzonspor karşısında puan almak için sahaya çıkacağız. Büyük bir takıma karşı oynayacağız ancak biz de iyi bir ekibiz." This amplifies the determination of Iskenderunspor as they aspire to gain points from this encounter.
The head of Iskenderunspor, Hakan Bolat, remarked on the significance of the match for the home crowd, highlighting, "Stadımız, Trabzonspor maçıyla açılıyor. Taraftarımızı tribünlere bekliyoruz." This shows the communal effort to rally support, encouraging fans to fill the stands and create an electrifying atmosphere.
The urgency to perform well is not lost on either side, with Trabzonspor aiming to solidify its lead and Iskenderunspor eager to capture the opportunity to rank higher. Akpunar also did not shy away from mentioning the challenges posed by the new tournament format; he noted, “Kupa formatındaki zorluklar ve sadece iki takımın üst tura çıkacağını bilmek her puanın hayati önem taşıdığını her iki takım için de gösteriyor.” Trimming down to just two teams progressing from the group underlines the stakes involved.
The kick-off is scheduled for 13:00 local time, and the match will be broadcast live on A Spor. With all eyes on Iskenderun's stadium, the anticipation is palpable. Both teams are set to make their mark, and fans are poised to create memories as the atmosphere promises to be electric.