Turkish champions Trabzonspor will host Swiss side Basel in a Europa Conference League round of 16 fixture. That in itself may not be very intriguing, but the fact that it will be the first football match played in Turkey since the tragic earthquake makes this fixture anything but ordinary.The 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated large parts of southern Turkey and left the country in disarray. Un those circumstances, the authorities have cancelled all domestic sporting events – but have allowed their clubs to go ahead with their scheduled international fixtures – provided they comply with certain guidelines.##NAJAVA_MECA_7023487##Although the city of Trabzon in the north of the country wasn’t directly affected by the natural disaster, the reigning champions of Turkey have opened their club hotel to offer shelter to around 3,000 displaced people who lost everything in the catastrophe. The club also sent a convoy of 500 large lorries full of food and medical supplies to the south. The match at the Senol Gunes Spor Kompleksi will be a sell-out and the club will donate all proceeds from ticket sales to charity. Their players will also play in their all-black kits.Tek renk, tek yürek olmak için #HepBirlikte siyah giyiyoruz. pic.twitter.com/EdPGIjGrFF— Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) February 16, 2023 The mood in the country is very sad, and Trabzonspor’s fixture tonight will also be played in a sombre atmosphere. The national football association and the ministry of sport have urged Trabzonspor supporters to come to the match against Basel, wear their team’s colours, but not engage in singing or cheering as a sign of respect for those who lost their lives this month. It’s difficult to imagine what will that look like – but we’ll see tonight.The visitors from Switzerland also expressed their condolences in a heartfelt post.”Football at such moments is secondary. Our thoughts are now with the victims of the devastating earthquake.”Yaralarımızı beraber sarıp, bu zor günleri hep birlikte atlatacağız… pic.twitter.com/bMWvEJCZoQ— Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) February 10, 2023 Besides the subdued encounter in Turkey, there will be seven more encounters featuring the likes of Lazio, Fiorentina, Gent, Bodo/Glimt and Anderlecht.UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUERound of 16, first legThursday20.45: (2.20) Qarabag (3.50) Gent (3.50)20.45: (1.90) Trabzon (3.60) Basel (4.50)20.45: (1.80) Bodo (3.70) Lech Poznan (5.00)20.45: (2.60) Braga (3.35) Fiorentina (2.90)23.00: (1.40) Lazio (4.80) Cluj (9.50)23.00: (2.10) AEK Larnaca (3.50) Dnipro-1 (3.80)23.00: (2.90) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.15) Partizan (2.75)23.00: (2.30) Ludogorets (3.30) Anderlecht (3.45)***odds are subject to change
