Salah hat-trick sinks Galatasaray on Reis's Trabzonspor debut

Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray in the new manager's first match in charge at the Papara Park.

The 2021/22 champions missed out on Europa League football last season, and manager Fatih Tekke handed in his resignation afterwards. The club initially refused to accept it, but relented following further talks. Reis, 52, arrived from Ludogorets and could hardly have asked for a better opening night.

Salah put the hosts ahead after four minutes, running through alone after Galatasaray lost possession in their own half and finishing coolly past Ugurcan Cakir. Noah Saviolo doubled the lead on 39 minutes from a Salah pass, and the Egyptian turned provider into scorer again right on the stroke of half-time. Franculino Djú pounced on a mistake by former Ajax defender Davinson Sánchez and squared for Salah to make it 3-0.

Trabzonspor eased off after the break, but Salah kept pushing for his hat-trick and got it ten minutes from time, running onto a through ball from Ozan Tufan and placing his finish into the far corner. At 34, it made him the first Trabzonspor player to score a hat-trick against Galatasaray.

The visitors from Istanbul finished the match with ten men and without their coach. Okan Buruk was shown two yellow cards inside two minutes and sent to the stands, and Lesley Ugochukwu was later dismissed as well.

Among Trabzonspor's summer arrivals alongside Salah were Fabinho, Djú and Rotterdam-born Sidny Lopes Cabral, part of a heavy investment that had not translated into results before Thursday's win.