UEFA Conference League Round of 16: Samsunspor - Rayo Vallecano

The football match between Samsunspor, the sole representative of Türkiye, and Spanish side Rayo Vallecano is part of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, the third-tier club competition in European football. The first leg of this encounter will be held on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at 20:45 in Samsun. The return leg, which will determine the team advancing to the quarterfinals, will take place in Spain on 19 March 2026.

The match will be played at the Samsun New 19 May Stadium and will be officiated by Romanian referee Marian Barbu. The Rayo Vallecano delegation arrived in Samsun on 10 March 2026 and shared posts on the club’s official social media accounts confirming their arrival in Türkiye. In return, Samsunspor formally welcomed the visiting team by presenting them with flowers. Club officials have described this match as one of the two most critical in Samsunspor’s history, with the Black Sea side’s primary objective being to secure a 1-0 or 2-0 home victory to gain an advantage before the return leg.

^{Samsunspor Conference League infographic (generated by artificial intelligence)}

With this match, Samsunspor will play its 21st European cup match in club history. The Black Sea team previously competed twice in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and has returned to European competition after a 27-year absence. To date, the team has played 20 matches in European competitions, achieving 11 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses, scoring 31 goals and conceding 20.

Samsunspor began its European campaign in the 2025-2026 season through the UEFA Europa League play-off round. After being eliminated by Greek side Panathinaikos, the team continued its journey in the UEFA Conference League. The club completed the league phase in 12th place with three wins, one draw and two losses. In the Round of 16 play-off, it faced North Macedonian side Shkendija and defeated them 1-0 and 4-0 to qualify for the Round of 16. Prior to the match against Rayo Vallecano, Samsunspor has recorded five wins, two draws and three losses in its ten European matches this season.

• Samsunspor UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Play-off Matches

Ahead of this crucial match, Samsunspor faces several absences. Elayis Tavsan and Yalçın Kayan, whose names do not appear on the UEFA registration list, are ineligible to play. Additionally, Jaures Assoumou and Bedirhan Çetin, who are recovering from long-term injuries, will also be unavailable. Zeki Yavru’s condition remains uncertain, with his fitness status to be confirmed on matchday. Emre Kılınç, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa, who have been out for approximately three months due to injuries, have resumed training with the team. However, their participation remains at the discretion of head coach Thorsten Fink, due to concerns over match fitness and risk of re-injury. It has also been emphasized that Afonso Sousa is not yet fully match-ready.

Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa emphasized that Rayo Vallecano’s position near the bottom of the Spanish league should not be misleading, noting the team’s improving form over their last three or four matches. He highlighted that Rayo Vallecano’s playing style and on-field formation closely resemble Samsunspor’s, and stressed the need to convert home advantage into goals through strong fan support. Meanwhile, club spokesperson Suat Çakır drew attention to the importance of the match and urged supporters to fill the stadium completely in pursuit of a quarterfinal berth. Çakır also criticized the referee decisions in Samsunspor’s recent league match against Fenerbahçe and announced to the public that legal proceedings will be initiated against online insults directed at club president Yüksel Yıldırım.

On 12 March 2026, when this match takes place, other Round of 16 fixtures in the tournament will also be played. Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, managed by Arda Turan, will face Polish team Lech Poznan. Other matches include AZ Alkmaar versus Sparta Prague, Rijeka versus Strasbourg, Crystal Palace versus AEK Larnaca, and Sigma Olomouc versus Mainz 05.

The football match between Samsunspor, the sole representative of Türkiye, and Spanish side Rayo Vallecano is part of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, the third-tier club competition in European football. The first leg of this encounter will take place on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at 20:45 in Samsun. The return leg, which will determine the team advancing to the quarterfinals, will be played in Spain on 19 March 2026.

The match will be held at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadium and will be officiated by Romanian referee Marian Barbu. The Rayo Vallecano delegation arrived in Samsun on 10 March 2026 and shared posts on the club’s official social media accounts confirming their arrival in Türkiye. In return, Samsunspor formally welcomed the visiting team with a bouquet of flowers. Club officials have described this match as one of the two most critical in Samsunspor’s history, with the Black Sea side’s primary objective being to secure a 1-0 or 2-0 home victory to gain an advantage before the return leg.

^{Samsunspor Conference League infographic (generated by artificial intelligence)}

With this match, Samsunspor will play its 21st European cup match in club history. The Black Sea team previously competed twice in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and has returned to European competition after a 27-year absence. To date, the club has played 20 matches in European competitions, achieving 11 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses, scoring 31 goals and conceding 20.

Samsunspor began its European campaign in the 2025-2026 season via the UEFA Europa League play-off round. After being eliminated by Greek side Panathinaikos, the team continued its journey in the UEFA Conference League. The club finished the league phase in 12th place with three wins, one draw and two losses. In the Round of 16 play-off, it faced North Macedonian side Shkendija and defeated them 1-0 and 4-0 to qualify for the Round of 16. Prior to the match against Rayo Vallecano, Samsunspor has recorded five wins, two draws and three losses in its ten European matches this season.

• Samsunspor UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Play-off Matches

Ahead of this crucial match, Samsunspor faces several absences. Elayis Tavsan and Yalçın Kayan, whose names do not appear on the UEFA list, are ineligible to play. Additionally, Jaures Assoumou and Bedirhan Çetin, both undergoing long-term recovery from injuries, will not be available. Zeki Yavru’s condition remains uncertain, with his fitness status to be confirmed by match time. Emre Kılınç, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa, who have been absent for approximately three months due to injuries, have resumed training with the team, but their participation remains at the discretion of head coach Thorsten Fink, due to concerns over match fitness and risk of re-injury. It has also been emphasized that Afonso Sousa is not yet fully match-ready.

Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa emphasized that Rayo Vallecano’s position near the bottom of the Spanish league should not be misleading, noting the team’s upward form in their last three or four matches. He highlighted that Rayo Vallecano’s playing style and on-field formation closely resemble Samsunspor’s, and stressed the importance of converting home advantage into goals through strong fan support. Meanwhile, club spokesperson Suat Çakır drew attention to the significance of the match and called on supporters to fill the stadium completely in pursuit of a quarterfinal berth. Çakır also criticized the referee decisions in Samsunspor’s recent league match against Fenerbahçe and announced to the public that legal proceedings will be initiated against online insults directed at club president Yüksel Yıldırım.

On 12 March 2026, when this match takes place, other Round of 16 fixtures in the tournament will also be played. Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, managed by Arda Turan, will face Polish representative Lech Poznan. Other matches include AZ Alkmaar versus Sparta Prague, Rijeka versus Strasbourg, Crystal Palace versus AEK Larnaca, and Sigma Olomouc versus Mainz 05.

In the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, one of the major club-level competitions in European football, Turkish representative Samsunspor faced Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. The match, hosted at the Samsun New 19 May Stadium, ended with a 3-1 advantage for the visiting team. The game was evaluated not only based on in-game tactical setups and statistical data but also through post-match statements made by the technical staff and management of both clubs.

Okan Kocuk, Yunus Emre Çift (64’ Coulibaly), Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson, Celil Yüksel, Makoumbou (64’ Emre Kılınç), Ntcham, Mendes (64’ Zeki Yavru), Holse, Mouandilmadji (82’ Ndiaye).

^{Samsunspor starting XI (AA)}" image-element-format="center" image-height="4480" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/13/Ml7F5AAzgc0HB2KJxfzl0VbJPcyDwA5D.jpg" image-width="6720">

Batalla, Pep Chavarria, Felipe, Lejeune, Ratiu, Ciss (87’ Gumbau), Lopez (75’ Diaz), Palazon (75’ Valentin), Garcia (83’ Espino), Akhomach (75’ De Frutos), Alemao.

^{Rayo Vallecano starting XI (AA)}" image-element-format="center" image-height="4480" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/13/4HpEnXu460shpm2ZQG6qnAVHoWJBsn72.jpg" image-width="6720">

The first dangerous attack of the match came in the 9th minute from Samsunspor; a free kick by Celil Yüksel resulted in a header from Mouandilmadji, which was controlled on the line by opposing goalkeeper Batalla. In the 15th minute, Alemao capitalized on a pass from Palazon into the penalty area and, despite a save attempt by goalkeeper Okan Kocuk, scored to give Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 lead. Samsunspor equalized in the 21st minute; Mouandilmadji controlled a bouncing ball in the penalty area after a cross from Makoumbou and fired a powerful shot to make it 1-1. In the closing stages of the first half, Garcia connected with a through ball from Palazon in the 40th minute, cut in from the left flank into the penalty area and shot to put the Spanish side ahead 2-1 at halftime.

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In the second half, in the 62nd minute, Holse’s header from a Tomasson cross was parried by goalkeeper Batalla, and Makoumbou’s follow-up shot was again blocked by the keeper. In the 72nd minute, a powerful shot from Rayo Vallecano’s Lopez over the penalty area line rebounded off goalkeeper Okan Kocuk and returned into play. The decisive goal came in the 78th minute; Alemao dribbled past two defenders and fired a shot from outside the penalty area to score his second goal of the match and Rayo Vallecano’s third. Throughout the match, Samsunspor players Holse, Celil Yüksel, Ntcham and Mendes, along with Rayo Vallecano players Felipe and Akhomach, were shown yellow cards by the referee. In the second half, Samsunspor introduced Coulibaly, Emre Kılınç, Zeki Yavru and Ndiaye, while Rayo Vallecano brought on Gumbau, Diaz, Valentin, Espino and De Frutos.

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Following the match, Rayo Vallecano Head Coach Inigo Perez Soto stated that his players adapted well to the away conditions and demonstrated sufficient physical performance. Soto emphasized that his squad’s rotations were not simple substitutions but tactical decisions tailored to the opponent, and reaffirmed the team’s objective of reaching the final of the competition.

^{Samsunspor-Rayo Vallecano match (AA)}

Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink acknowledged that his team outperformed the opposition in ball possession and expected goals (0.55), but attributed the defeat to Rayo Vallecano’s ability to capitalize on Samsunspor’s individual errors. Fink explained that due to the absence of Elayis Tavsan and the injury to Assoumou, the team struggled in wide areas and were forced to deploy Holse, whose natural position is central, on the flank. The German coach also highlighted the quality of the opponent’s playing structure and organization, noting that Rayo Vallecano possesses the potential to win the trophy.

^{Rayo Vallecano Head Coach Inigo Perez Soto (AA)}

Samsunspor Club President Yüksel Yıldırım noted that the difference in pace between Spain’s La Liga and Türkiye’s Süper Lig was clearly evident in this match, and that fatigue from the previous league game had affected the team’s physical condition. Yıldırım stated that the team’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals had dropped from 50 percent to 20 percent and affirmed that a renewal of the squad would be necessary, with players whose contracts are expiring and who will not continue with the club being released. Yıldırım, who watched the match alongside Turkish national team head coach Vincenzo Montella, added that both coaches considered the referee’s performance inadequate, citing missed fouls and excessive tolerance for time-wasting tactics.

^{Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink (AA)}

Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa and player Celil Yüksel stated that the goals conceded stemmed from individual ball losses, but emphasized that they remain hopeful ahead of the return leg. The rematch is scheduled to take place in Spain on 18 March.

The match between Samsunspor, the sole representative of Türkiye, and Spain’s Rayo Vallecano is part of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, the third-tier club competition in European football. The first leg was played on Thursday 12 March 2026 at 20:45 in Samsun, where Samsunspor lost 3-1. The return leg, which will determine which team advances to the quarterfinals, will be held in Spain on 19 March 2026.

The match will take place at the Samsun New 19 May Stadium and will be officiated by Romanian referee Marian Barbu. The Rayo Vallecano delegation arrived in Samsun on 10 March 2026, with the club sharing official posts on its social media accounts confirming their arrival in Türkiye. In return, Samsunspor formally welcomed the visiting team by presenting them with flowers. Club officials described this encounter as one of the two most critical matches in Samsunspor’s history, with the primary objective for the Black Sea side being to secure a 1 or 2 goal home victory to gain an advantage before the return leg.

^{Samsunspor Conference League infographic (generated by artificial intelligence)}

With this match, Samsunspor will play its 21st European cup match in club history. The Black Sea side previously competed twice in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and has returned to European competition after a 27-year absence. To date, the team has played 20 matches in European competitions, recording 11 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses, scoring 31 goals and conceding 20.

Samsunspor began its European campaign in the 2025-2026 season by entering the UEFA Europa League play-off round, where it was eliminated by Greek side Panathinaikos. The club then continued its journey in the UEFA Conference League. It finished the league phase in 12th place with three wins, one draw and two losses. In the Round of 16 play-off, it faced North Macedonian side Shkendija and defeated them 1-0 and 4-0 to qualify for the Round of 16. Before facing Rayo Vallecano, Samsunspor had played 10 matches in Europe this season, achieving five wins, two draws and three losses.

• Samsunspor UEFA Conference League Round of 16 Play-off Matches

Ahead of this crucial match, Samsunspor faces several absences. Elayis Tavsan and Yalçın Kayan, whose names do not appear on UEFA’s official list, are ineligible to play. Additionally, Jaures Assoumou and Bedirhan Çetin, both recovering from long-term injuries, will not be available. Zeki Yavru’s condition remains uncertain, with his fitness to be confirmed by match time. Emre Kılınç, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa, who have been sidelined for approximately three months due to injuries, have returned to training but their participation remains at the discretion of head coach Thorsten Fink, due to concerns over match readiness and risk of re-injury. It has been further emphasized that Afonso Sousa is not yet fully match-ready.

Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa emphasized that Rayo Vallecano’s low position in the Spanish league should not be misleading, noting that the Spanish side has shown an upward trend in form over their last three or four matches. He highlighted that Rayo Vallecano’s playing style and on-field formation closely resemble Samsunspor’s, and stressed the importance of converting home advantage into goals through strong crowd support. Meanwhile, club spokesperson Suat Çakır drew attention to the significance of the match and called on fans to fill the stadium completely in pursuit of a quarterfinal berth. Çakır also criticized the refereeing decisions in Samsunspor’s recent league match against Fenerbahçe and announced to the public that legal proceedings will be initiated against online insults directed at club president Yüksel Yıldırım.

On 12 March 2026, when this match takes place, other fixtures in the Round of 16 of the tournament will also be played. Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, managed by Arda Turan, will face Polish representative Lech Poznan. The other matches are AZ Alkmaar versus Sparta Prague, Rijeka versus Strasbourg, Crystal Palace versus AEK Larnaca, and Sigma Olomouc versus Mainz 05.

In the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16, one of the major club-level competitions in European football, Turkish representative Samsunspor faced Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. The match, hosted at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadium, ended with a 3-1 advantage for the visiting team. The contest was evaluated not only through on-field tactics and statistical data but also through post-match statements by the technical staff and management of both clubs.

Okan Kocuk, Yunus Emre Çift (64' Coulibaly), Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson, Celil Yüksel, Makoumbou (64' Emre Kılınç), Ntcham, Mendes (64' Zeki Yavru), Holse, Mouandilmadji (82' Ndiaye).

^{Samsunspor starting XI (AA)}

Batalla, Pep Chavarria, Felipe, Lejeune, Ratiu, Ciss (87' Gumbau), Lopez (75' Diaz), Palazon (75' Valentin), Garcia (83' Espino), Akhomach (75' De Frutos), Alemao.

^{Rayo Vallecano starting XI (AA)}

The first dangerous attack of the match came in the 9th minute from Samsunspor; a free kick by Celil Yüksel resulted in a header from Mouandilmadji, which was controlled on the line by opposing goalkeeper Batalla. In the 15th minute, Alemao capitalized on a pass from Palazon into the penalty area and scored past goalkeeper Okan Kocuk to give Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 lead. This goal was answered in the 21st minute; Mouandilmadji controlled a bouncing ball inside the penalty area following a cross from Makoumbou and equalized with a powerful shot to make it 1-1. In the latter stages of the first half, Garcia received a through ball from Palazon in the 40th minute, cut inside from the left flank and fired a shot that put the Spanish side ahead 2-1 heading into halftime.

^{Samsunspor-Rayo Vallecano match (AA)}

In the second half, in the 62nd minute, Batalla denied a header from Holse following a cross by Tomasson, and Makoumbou’s follow-up shot was also saved by the goalkeeper. In the 72nd minute, a powerful shot from Rayo Vallecano’s Lopez, taken from just outside the penalty area, rebounded off goalkeeper Okan Kocuk and returned into play. The decisive goal came in the 78th minute; Alemao dribbled past two defenders and fired a shot from outside the penalty area to score his second and his team’s third goal. Throughout the match, Holse, Celil Yüksel, Ntcham and Mendes of Samsunspor, and Felipe and Akhomach of Rayo Vallecano were shown yellow cards by the referee. In the second half, Coulibaly, Emre Kılınç, Zeki Yavru and Ndiaye came on for Samsunspor, while Gumbau, Diaz, Valentin, Espino and De Frutos replaced their counterparts for Rayo Vallecano.

^{Rayo Vallecano Head Coach Inigo Perez Soto (AA)}

Following the match, Rayo Vallecano Head Coach Inigo Perez Soto noted that his players adapted well to the away conditions and demonstrated sufficient physical performance. Soto emphasized that his squad’s depth allowed for deliberate tactical substitutions based on the opponent, rather than simple rotation, and stated that the team’s goal remains reaching the final of the tournament.

^{Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink (AA)}

Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink acknowledged that his team outperformed the opposition in possession-based play and expected goals (0.55), but attributed the defeat to Rayo Vallecano’s ability to capitalize on Samsunspor’s individual errors. Fink explained that injuries to Assoumou and the exclusion of Elayis Tavsan from the squad limited their options on the wings, forcing them to deploy Holse, whose natural position is central, on the flank. The German coach highlighted the quality of Rayo Vallecano’s structure and organization, adding that Rayo Vallecano possesses the potential to win the trophy.

^{Samsunspor Club President Yüksel Yıldırım (AA)}

Samsunspor Club President Yüksel Yıldırım pointed out that the difference in game tempo between Spain’s La Liga and Türkiye’s Süper Lig was clearly evident in this match, and that physical fatigue from the previous league game affected the team’s performance. Yıldırım stated that their chances of reaching the quarterfinals have dropped from 50% to 20%, and that a realistic assessment of the squad will lead to renewal, with players whose contracts are ending being released. Accompanied by A National Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, Yıldırım added that both coaches considered the referee’s performance inadequate, citing missed fouls and excessive tolerance for time-wasting.

^{Samsunspor player Celil Yüksel (AA)}

Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa and player Celil Yüksel stated that the conceded goals stemmed from individual ball losses, but emphasized that they remain hopeful ahead of the return leg. The rematch is scheduled to take place in Spain on 18 March.