Trabzonspor vs NS Rizespor

Eastern Black Sea Derby: Pride night at Papara Park

Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 77/100. This derby matters because league ambitions and regional pride collide, with Trabzonspor chasing the top three and Rizespor desperate to rip up the script.

The Setup

On 14 March 2026, Papara Park stages the Eastern Black Sea Derby, and this won’t feel like just another regular-season date. Trabzonspor sit 3rd with 51 points from 24 games, clinging to the leading pack. Rizespor are 10th on 27 points, their season defined more by flashes than consistency.

The rivalry lifts the Stakes. Local bragging rights, full stands, and the sense that one moment can live for years in fan memory turn this into a real crunch derby. Futmetrix flags it as a clear “worth watching” fixture, and it’s easy to see why.

Trabzonspor bring a strong Form profile, powered by a hungry attack that has been scoring freely. Rizespor arrive with a recent upturn that suggests they won’t just park the bus; they’ll try to play. On paper, the Balance tilts towards the home side, but derby tension tends to flatten gaps quickly.

In terms of Stars, both squads are well-stocked. Trabzonspor’s front line has genuine match-winners, while Rizespor’s creative core can hurt anyone if given space between the lines.

Key Battle

The headline duel is between Trabzonspor’s towering finisher Paul Onuachu and Rizespor’s playmaking heartbeat Qazim Laci. Onuachu turns every cross into a panic alarm; his presence forces Rizespor’s back line to defend deeper and tighter than they’d like. Laci, in contrast, is the release valve: if he can receive cleanly and dictate tempo, Rizespor can breathe and break.

This is essentially Onuachu’s penalty area against Laci’s passing lanes. If Trabzonspor manage to lock Laci out of the game, Rizespor will struggle to escape pressure. If Laci finds pockets and feeds his runners, Trabzonspor’s defensive line will be dragged into awkward footraces.

Our Prediction

Expect Trabzonspor to dominate the ball, push full-backs high and pepper the box with crosses towards Onuachu. Rizespor will look to survive those spells, then spring forward through Laci-led transitions. Over 90 minutes, the home side’s depth and attacking variety should tell. We expect a lively, end-to-end derby with goals, but with Trabzonspor’s pressure and Onuachu’s penalty-box edge eventually forcing a home win.