Trabzonspor's striker problem before Freiburg
Onuachu has been out since 15 October and Franculino Dju now has a muscle strain. What Trabzonspor's forward crisis means for our Freiburg call.
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Trabzonspor have lost both of their strikers in a fortnight. Paul Onuachu has been out since 15 October with a groin injury, and Franculino Dju, who scored the goals in his absence, now has a muscle strain. Both could be back for Freiburg on Thursday 5 November, or neither could. Our Desk call backs Trabzonspor in that game, so this is the news that matters most to it.
Where our number stands
| Outcome | Our chance | Fair price | Best price seen | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trabzonspor | 50.7% | 1.97 | 2.63, Unibet | +12.7 pts |
| Draw | 23.2% | 4.30 | ||
| SC Freiburg | 26.1% | 3.83 |
The card was published at 00:09 UTC on 30 October and the 2.63 was quoted at 02:06 UTC. The full call is in our Trabzonspor v Freiburg prediction.
What happened to the strikers
- Onuachu. He scored the opener at KuPS on 15 October, a 4–2 win, and went off early with a groin injury that Türkiye Gazetesi blames on the artificial pitch. He missed Beşiktaş, Hearts and Rizespor, per Foot Africa. He was joint top scorer in the Süper Lig last season with 22 goals, but has three in ten games this season.
- Dju. He took the shirt and ran with it: nine goals in six games under coach Thomas Reis, per Türkiye Gazetesi, including two in the comeback from 2–0 down to win 4–3 at Rizespor. Hürriyet reports he came out of that game with oedema and a strain, will probably miss Gaziantep on Sunday, and is being prepared for Freiburg.
- The next step. Onuachu says he feels well and wants to play on Sunday; Reis will use him if the medical staff agree, per Türkiye Gazetesi.
What it does to the call
Less than the headlines suggest, on balance. Trabzonspor have a fit replacement on the way back in Onuachu, and Dju is being aimed at exactly this game. The worst case, neither striker fit on Thursday, would leave a side that has won six in a row (per Stadiro) without its scorers, and we would expect our chance to fall if the Desk reprices. The Desk does not say whether the 00:09 UTC number already reflects the Dju news, so we will not claim it does.
What we would watch: whether Onuachu plays at Gaziantep on Sunday, and whether Dju trains with the squad early next week. If you are thinking about a price, the 2.63 is from early on 30 October and may move with that news. We explain how a single player shifts a number in what a positive edge actually means.
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Common questions
Is Paul Onuachu injured?
He hurt his groin on the artificial pitch at KuPS on 15 October, per Foot Africa and Türkiye Gazetesi, and has missed the games since. He has told the staff he feels well and wants to play against Gaziantep on 1 November.
Is Franculino Dju injured?
Hürriyet reports oedema and a strain in his muscle after the 4–3 win at Rizespor. He is unlikely to face Gaziantep, and the club is trying to have him ready for Freiburg.
Does this change BAI8's Trabzonspor v Freiburg call?
Our card was published at 00:09 UTC on 30 October, around the time the Dju news broke, and the Desk does not say whether it includes it. We still make Trabzonspor 50.7%. Check team news before kick-off.
What is BAI8's Trabzonspor v Freiburg prediction?
Trabzonspor 50.7%, draw 23.2%, Freiburg 26.1%. The best price on Trabzonspor was 2.63 at Unibet, a 12.7 point edge. It is an estimate, not a promise.