Turkey vs Bulgaria prediction: EUROPE: World Cup – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-11-14 17:00.
[p]There’s a huge incentive on offer here for Turkey, who could secure a top-two berth in World Cup qualification (WCQ) Group E by avoiding defeat against Bulgaria. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]While it’s highly probable that second will be as good as it gets for Turkey in Group E, they still have an outside shot at securing top spot with two rounds remaining. A clash with group-topping Spain next week could be their final shot at claiming automatic qualification, but for that to be the case, they need to secure maximum returns here, something they’ve convincingly done in their last two WCQ games. Wins against Bulgaria (6-1) and Georgia (4-1) have shown they have what it takes to take the race for top spot to the final matchday, and a run of just one defeat from their last nine internationals in Turkey (W6, D2) only serves to reinforce belief in a side bidding to reach a first World Cup finals since 2002.[/p]
[p]Bulgaria are the only team in Group E whose elimination has already been confirmed coming into matchday five, meaning 1998 will remain the last World Cup finals they qualified for. Another disastrous WCQ campaign has so far yielded four defeats from as many games, and with Turkey inflicting the heaviest of those, this trip seems unlikely to be one they’re relishing, particularly with nothing but pride to play for. This current Bulgaria crop should be motivated to not down tools just yet though, as they could still become unwanted history makers, with no Bulgaria team ever failing to win a single game in a WCQ cycle since their failed tilt at reaching the 1954 World Cup finals. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Turkey have had the recent edge in this fixture, winning four of the last five H2Hs (L1). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]All four of Turkey’s WCQ games in this cycle featured over 4.5 goals. [/p]
[p]Eleven of the 13 goals Turkey have scored in this cycle arrived before the hour mark. [/p]
[p]Bulgaria have conceded 3+ goals in all four of their WCQ games this cycle. [/p]
[p]Bulgaria have lost seven of their eight internationals in 2025 (D1). Â [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Turkey’s Kenan Yıldız scored in both of their October internationals, including a brace in the reverse H2H, and has scored in the November international break in the last two years. Bulgaria may lean on Kiril Despodov for a fast start given he’s opened the scoring on eight of his last 11 international scoring appearances.[/p]
[p]Eren Elmali was removed from the Turkey squad for disciplinary reasons, while Radoslav Kirilov is the only Bulgaria player to score in this WCQ cycle, but he’s missing through injury.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Bulgaria’s struggles, seeing anything other than a Turkey win by a -1 handicap would be a huge surprise. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]