Konyaspor v Salzburg background
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Article summary
Having posted their first European win on matchday two, Konyaspor will try to keep the momentum going, though Group I visitors Salzburg have been in good continental form.
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Having earned their first European win on matchday two, Konyaspor will look to keep the momentum going, though Group I visitors Salzburg are showing fine continental form.
Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time and it is Konyaspor's first encounter with Austrian opponents.
• Salzburg's record in four games against Turkish teams is W1 D1 L2, both of those defeats coming in Turkey.
Form guide
• Konyaspor secured their first European win at the eighth attempt when they beat Vitória SC 2-1 on matchday two.
• Salzburg are unbeaten in seven UEFA Europa League matches (W5 D2).
• Winners of the 2016/17 Turkish Cup, Konyaspor made their European competition debut in last year's UEFA Europa League group stage.
• Austrian champions, and 1994 UEFA Cup runners-up, Salzburg missed the cut in last year's UEFA Europa League group stage, after succeeding in their previous three attempts.
Trivia and links
• The journey from Salzburg to Konya is just over 1,900km.
• Konyaspor defender Petar Filipovic has played in Austria with Ried (2015–16) and Austria Wien (2016–17).
• Salzburg's Stefan Stangl turns 26 the day after the game.
• Salzburg need two more goals to reach 200 in UEFA club competition: this is their 163rd match in Europe.
• Salzburg won last season's UEFA Youth League, beating Benfica in the final under Marco Rose – now in charge of the senior side.
• Along with FCSB, Salzburg are in a record seventh UEFA Europa League group stage. They are the only team to record a maximum 18 points twice (2009/10 and 2013/14).
• Misses next match if booked: Ali Turan (Konyaspor).
The coaches
• Konyaspor boss Mustafa Reşit Akçay is back in the group stage for a third time, having coached Trabzonspor and Osmanlıspor in past editions. A youth specialist, he notably went unbeaten in his first 19 games in UEFA competition (W15 D4).
• Previously youth-team boss, Marco Rose stepped up to the Salzburg helm after predecessor Óscar García left in June. A defender with home-town club Leipzig, Hannover and Mainz, he has been on Salzburg's staff since 2013.