Rizespor head coach Recep Ucar believes that it will be a huge task for his side to stop in-form Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu when both sides clash in the Turkish league this weekend.
Rizespor, ninth on the standings visit the Papara Park to face the in-form Trabzonspor on Saturday, with a daunting task ahead of them.
One of the challenges the club is expected to face is keeping Nigerian striker Onuachu quiet in the clash.
The Super Eagles forward leads the golden boot chase with 20 goals and has scored in nine consecutive matches across all competitions since returning from action at the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament.
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Onuachu was also on target in the reverse fixture in October, scoring Trabzonspor’s second goal in a 2-1 victory.
The Super Eagles star also equalled a 14-year record by scoring in his last outing, matching the record for the most consecutive league games scored for Trabzonspor (7), set by Turkish great Burak Yilmaz in the 2011-12 season.
Ucar warns Rizespor of Onuachu threat
Ucar, who took over the role of Rizespor head coach in December, has warned his side of the threat posed by Nigerian forward Onuachu in the clash.
Rizespor are unbeaten in their last four league outings, winning the last three and will be hoping to extend that run this time around.
“Paul Onuachu has scored in all of his last seven matches,” Ucar said.
“He is one of the tallest strikers in the league and is particularly effective with high balls in the penalty area. Stopping him won’t be easy, but we will do our best together with our defenders. However, Trabzonspor is not just Onuachu; it is a team with many high-quality players.”
Ucar also hailed Trabzonspor’s quality and is confident his side will put up a fight in the clash.
“They are currently in third place and are 3 points behind second-placed Fenerbahçe. Despite having a new squad, they have done very well. They also play effectively at home”, Ucar added.
“A tough match awaits us, that’s clear. We want to play our own game and continue the rhythm and momentum we have gained.”
