Bulgaria vs Turkey prediction: EUROPE: World Cup – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-10-10 18:45.
[p]Bulgaria return home looking to kickstart their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign (WCQ), while Turkey are aiming to get back to winning ways on the road in Group E.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]It’s been a tough start to this WCQ cycle for Bulgaria, who are chasing a first World Cup finals appearance since 1998. They’ve lost each of their two matches so far, both by heavy 3-0 scorelines against Spain and Georgia. Another defeat here would leave them with a mountain to climb if they are to reach next summer’s showpiece event, and a return of no wins from their last five home matches (D3, L2) suggests an immediate improvement is unlikely here.[/p]
[p]Turkey already have three points on the board in Group E thanks to a 3-2 win away at Georgia, but followed that up with a confidence-shattering 6-0 defeat against European champions Spain. Boss Vincenzo Montella needs to rebuild morale if he’s to end their absence from the World Cup which dates back to 2002, when they went all the way to the semi-finals. The Crescent-Stars should be confident of bouncing back against lower-ranked opposition given that they’ve won each of their last three away games, scoring 2+ goals each time.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since 1977. Turkey have lost just two of the subsequent seven friendlies (W3, D2), with those three wins coming across the last four meetings, including in their most recent clash in 2015 by a dominant 4-0 scoreline. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Bulgaria have lost each of their last three matches by a 10-0 aggregate scoreline.[/p]
[p]Bulgaria have conceded four goals between the 30th minute and half-time across their last two games. [/p]
[p]Turkey have scored 2+ goals in four of their last six matches. [/p]
[p]Turkey have kept just one clean sheet across their last seven games. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Aleksandar Kolev not only comes into this game with six goal involvements in three matches for club side Nantong Zhiyun (G4, A2), but he also scored both of Bulgaria’s last home goals back in June. Turkey’s Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored a brace in last month’s away win at Georgia, and also netted twice in UEFA Europa League action last week. [/p]
[p]Bulgaria’s Fabian NĂĽrnberger came off injured after just five minutes for club side Darmstadt at the weekend, while Turkey don’t appear to have any fresh injuries. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]We expect Turkey to flex their muscles here, so we suggest backing an away win accompanied by a clean sheet. [/p]
[p][i]Author: David H[/i][/p]