Samsunspor
- Samsunspor are enjoying a solid season in the Super Lig with 32 points from 24 fixtures, but it has been the new German manager’s pragmatic approach to the game that has seen them secure a first ever European knockout win this term.
- Fink has made them tough to beat and difficult to play against in Europe by keeping it tight in defence and using possession when they have the ball.
- Samsunspor don’t force play to the flanks in the way most teams do.
Rayo Vallecano
- Vallecano are having a better season than expected after returning to European knockout football.
- A good result in Turkey on Thursday will have them in the driver’s seat for a quarter-final place and their last five games show how they have turned the corner.
- Three of those five games were away from home with a 3-0 win at Oviedo and a draw at Athletic Club either side of a 1-2 defeat at Real Madrid.
- They also beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 during that run and drew with Real Betis last weekend.
- Iñigo Pérez has instilled a high-pressure style of play that can cause opponents problems, but also makes them tough to break down when they sit deep.
- Keeper Augusto Batalla, who has helped Rayo secure multiple clean sheets this season, is in form and the quality in midfield and forward is finally looking strong again.
- Jorge de Frutos scored a brace against Oviedo last weekend and is back to his best in the central striker role that Pérez likes to use.
- Alvaro García and Isi Palazón offer pace and directness on the wings with both providing goals and assists so far this season.
Head-to-Head
Samsunspor and Rayo Vallecano will be unfamiliar adversaries when they first meet in a competitive game on Thursday in what is a historic first-ever game for the Turkish side in a UEFA Conference League Round of 16 tie.
Samsunspor
- Marius Mouandilmadji leads the attack and is among the Conference League's top scorers.
- Olivier Ntcham is the anchor, providing the brains in possession and helping to control the tempo of the match in what should be a close and cagey game.
- Pape Cherif Ndiaye offers a different sort of power and has shown a good eye for the goal this term, including a strike in the 4 - 0 European win over Shkëndija that should give Rayo something to think about.
Rayo Vallecano
- Keeper Augusto Batalla, who has helped Rayo secure multiple clean sheets this season, is in form and the quality in midfield and forward is finally looking strong again.
- Jorge de Frutos scored a brace against Oviedo last weekend and is back to his best in the central striker role that Pérez likes to use.
- Alvaro García and Isi Palazón offer pace and directness on the wings with both providing goals and assists so far this season.
Betting Insights
- Backing both teams to score at 1.7 looks good in this fixture because of the contrasting styles of both sides and the fact that goals are likely to be scored at both ends.
- They are 2.18 to win and the draw is 3.45, which is also a big price given the similarity in quality of these sides and the closeness that this tie could be.
- A draw or a one-goal win for either side seems the most likely outcome with Rayo and Samsunspor each carrying some good recent form into this first leg.
Prediction
Two goalless draws in the league and a 1 - 3 defeat to Antalyaspor show Samsunspor’s defensive improvement under Fink, and they may be able to hold the visitors to a goalless draw or, just as likely, a one-goal victory.
