Turkey vs Montenegro prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-10-10 18:45.
[p]After starting off their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League (UNL) campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Wales in Cardiff, Turkey earned three points in İzmir by beating Iceland 3-1 to move top of Group C4 ahead of matchday three. The Crescent Stars next face Montenegro, who they have never lost to in four previous H2Hs (W2, D2), a run which includes four points gained against them in two FIFA World Cup qualifiers. [/p]
[p]Prior to playing Iceland, Turkey hadn’t faced anyone on home soil since last October but their record as hosts recently has been extremely strong, with seven wins in their last ten such internationals (D2, L1). Despite those positives, one of the main areas that head coach Vincenzo Montella may want to address is his team’s inability to keep clean sheets, having secured only two shutouts in the last 13 games during his stewardship after back-to-back shutouts to start his tenure. [/p]
[p]Montenegro need wider improvements and are looking to get their first points on the board during this UNL campaign after successive losses to Iceland (2-0) and Wales (2-1). Those results are part of a run of four straight defeats – their joint-worst sequence since gaining their footballing independence in 2007. [/p]
[p]The Brave Falcons can make the trip to Turkey with a modicum of confidence however, given that they beat both North Macedonia (1-0) and Belarus (2-0) there in friendlies in March. Montenegro’s form has been up and down in recent international breaks, but despite that inconsistency, they haven’t drawn any of their last 11 matches (W5, L6), with the ultimate victor having gone 1-0 up in ten of those games. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Kerem AktĂĽrkoÄźlu has been on fire for club and country, having registered nine goal involvements in his last six matches (G7, A2) – a spell which has also seen him end up on the winning side every time and score his first international hat-trick (against Iceland)! Looking to steal his thunder in Samsun will be veteran Stevan Jovetić, who has netted in two of his last five substitute appearances, while 21 of his last 22 goals have come after the half-hour mark. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Montenegro haven’t scored in the first 25 minutes of their last seven internationals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]