Rizespor vs NS Samsunspor

Rizespor searching for a spark, Samsunspor chasing a reset

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 52/100. This is a Form check for two Black Sea sides desperate to grab momentum for the run-in.

The Setup

On 22 March 2026 at Çaykur Didi Stadyumu, Rizespor host Samsunspor in a Süper Lig game that won’t headline the weekend, but could quietly reshape both teams’ seasons. Rizespor sit 12th on 19 points from 19 matches, with only four wins and just two home victories in eight attempts – that fragile home record hangs over everything here.

In contrast, Samsunspor are 7th with 27 points and a positive goal difference, yet their recent "DDLLL" run has slammed the brakes on any push towards Europe. This is classic mid-season territory: not a title race decider, not a survival drama, but a contest where the winner gets a psychological jump and a healthier platform for the final stretch. The expected goals flow is promising too – both teams score and concede enough to suggest we won’t be watching a stalemate in slow motion.

On the Stars side, the away attack brings the sharper edge, while Rizespor lean heavily on goalkeeper Y. Fofana, who has produced 22 saves in his last five matches. With competitive Balance but only moderate Stakes in the league context, this has the feel of a match where individual moments and errors, rather than long-term narratives, will dominate the story.

Key Battle

The decisive duel should be Rizespor’s midfield circulation against Samsunspor’s high press. When the hosts move the ball quickly through the middle, they can release wide runners and overload the flanks; when their passing tempo drops, their lines stretch, leaving big channels to be attacked. Samsunspor thrive when they press early, force rushed decisions and pounce on loose passes. Second balls around the centre circle will be gold dust: whoever wins those and transitions forward faster is likely to control territory and chances. Rizespor’s insistence on building from the back versus Samsunspor’s appetite to punish risky build-up is the tactical fault line.

Our Prediction

Expect an open, sometimes chaotic match rather than a cagey chess game. Rizespor should start on the front foot, driven by home pressure and the need to repair that poor record, whipping in crosses and crashing the box for second balls. But as the game stretches, Samsunspor’s speed in transition and sharper individual quality in the final third should surface. Rizespor’s back line will likely leave space in behind, inviting counters. We see goals at both ends, with a draw looking very realistic, and Samsunspor more likely to create the clearer chances if they survive the early storm.