Trabzonspor: Is Mohamed Salah already overshadowing Paul Onuachu?

Mohamed Salah bagged a brace against Başakşehir to deliver Trabzonspor their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Paul Onuachu, the club’s top scorer last season, has yet to find the back of the net after two games.

It didn’t take long for Mohamed Salah to take center stage at Trabzonspor. After a quiet debut in the draw against Kasımpaşa (1-1), the Egyptian was handed a start on Sunday against İstanbul Başakşehir and made an immediate impact, netting twice in the 8th and 48th minutes to secure a 2-1 victory for his side.

Salah, already two goals in two matches

On his first Süper Lig start, the former Liverpool star wasted no time in opening his account. His first goal came after pouncing on a poorly controlled ball by the Başakşehir goalkeeper to break the deadlock. After Eldor Shomurodov equalized from the spot, Salah restored Trabzonspor’s lead right after the break.

Just two rounds into the league campaign, the numbers speak for themselves: two matches, two goals for Trabzonspor’s new attacking force. Crucially, both goals directly influenced the result—his brace secured the club’s first win and first three points of the season.

Onuachu still silent

This impressive start stands in stark contrast to Paul Onuachu. The Nigerian, who spearheaded Trabzonspor’s attack last season and was a key figure in their offensive prowess, remains scoreless after the first two fixtures.

Even more concerning, the towering Nigerian hasn’t registered an assist either. He did have a chance to shine against Başakşehir: in the 61st minute, Salah picked him out perfectly in the box, but Onuachu lost his one-on-one with the keeper after a defensive intervention from Emin Bayram.

The balance of power could shift

It’s obviously too early to talk about Onuachu being sidelined. Two games aren’t enough to draw conclusions for the entire season, especially since the two players don’t play exactly the same role. But the early signs are hard to ignore: Salah is scoring, winning games for Trabzonspor, and already emerging as a key figure, while Onuachu is still searching for his first goal.

The trend is even more intriguing since Salah has also been actively involved in creating chances for his teammate. In the win over Başakşehir, the Egyptian notably found Onuachu in a promising position and fashioned a key pass his way.

Salah is far from just a media attraction at Trabzonspor: he’s already becoming their X-factor. If Onuachu can quickly rediscover his usual scoring touch, the club could boast a truly lethal attacking duo. If not, the Egyptian may gradually eclipse last season’s main finisher.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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