Prediction: Turkey to win 3-0
Best Odds: 12/1
Turkey and Hungary will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Nations League playoff tie this week. The first leg of the Group B/Group A tie will be held at RAMS Park in Istanbul and is scheduled to kick off off at 5pm UK time on Thursday.
Turkey
Turkey are a major power in European football and are expected to qualify for major international competitions. They will have been disappointed to be part of the UEFA Nations League League B for the 2024-25 campaign, but now they have a chance to win promotion to Group A.
Vincenzo Montella’s side finished second in the UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 with 11 points from six matches. Turkey ended up just a point behind leaders Wales and will have been disappointed that they could not finish at the top of the group.
Turkey will fancy their chances of winning against Hungary. After all, Ay-Yıldızlılar are a better team and have better players. They are also at home for the first leg.
Team News:
Mert Gunok, Altay Bayindir and Ugurcan Cakir are the three goalkeepers in the Turkey squad. Zeki Celik, Eren Elmali, Mert Muldir, Kaan Ayhan, Orkun Kokcu, Arda Guler, Enes Unal and Kenan Yildiz are also part of the squad.
Hungary
Hungary are a modest European team who do not tend to and are not expected to qualify for major international competitions. That they even featured in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A campaign is a feat in itself, and one suspects that they will want to keep it that way.
Marco Rossi’s side finished third in Group 3 with six points from six matches. Hungary ended up three points behind second-placed the Netherlands and will now head into the playoff tie determined to win against Turkey.
Hungary were not expected to end up in the top two in Group 3 and will have been prepared for this eventuality of playing in the playoff. They have to be on top of their game to beat Turkey over two legs and have to get something from the first leg in Turkey.
Team News:
Denes Dibusz, Patrik Demjen and Peter Szappanos are the three goalkeepers in the Hungary squad for the tie against Turkey. Botond Balogh, Willi Orban, Endre Botka, Adam Nagy, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andras Schafer, Zsolt Nagy, Roland Sallai and Kevin Csoboth are part of the squad.
Key Factors to Consider
- Turkey and Hungary have played twice before in the UEFA Nations League.
- Turkey scored 9 goals in 6 UEFA Nations League matches in 2024-25.
- Turkey conceded 6 goals in 6 UEFA Nations League matches in 2024-25.
- Hungary scored 4 goals in 6 UEFA Nations League games in 2024-25.
- Hungary conceded 11 goals in 6 UEFA Nations League games in 2024-25.
Conclusion
Turkey have a better squad and are at home for the first leg of the tie against Hungary. It is very likely that they will register a comfortable win.
Prediction: Turkey to win 3-0
Best Odds: 12/1
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