Here’s our Turkey Vs Wales preview, prediction, team news and predicted lineups ahead of Saturday’s Nations League fixture.
Turkey Vs Wales Preview
Turkey have won three in a row since drawing with Wales in their Nations League opener. They beat Iceland twice either side of a victory over Montenegro, with two late goals securing a 4-2 win last time out.
Currently top of League B Group 4, Vincenzo Montella’s side will gain promotion with a game to spare if they beat Wales on Saturday.
Turkey are unbeaten at home in the competition since 2020, a run of seven games. They also beat Wales 2-0 in June 2023 during Euro 2024 qualifying.
Craig Bellamy’s Wales, meanwhile, are unbeaten in the manager’s first four games in charge. No Welsh coach has ever avoided defeat in their opening four fixtures, so the Red Dragons will be full of confidence.
Despite letting a 2-0 lead slip to draw with Iceland, Wales beat Montenegro 1-0 and will leapfrog Turkey to the top of the group with a win.
They beat Turkey at Euro 2020, and have lost just one of their last seven away games in Nations League B.
With both sides aiming for promotion, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter.
🏴 ✈️ 🇹🇷#UNL | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/RgpUGtrkuI
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 14, 2024
Turkey Vs Wales Team News
Hosts Turkey will need to call on some unfamiliar names in defence. This is because Ferdi Kadioglu, Caglar Soyuncu and Ozan Kabak are all out injured, and they are joined on the sidelines by Irfan Kahveci and Dogan Alemdar.
It will be cap number 95 for skipper Hakan Calhanoglu, with Orkun Kokcu likely to partner him in midfield.
Real Madrid’s exciting youngster Arda Guler should start in the number 10 position.
Joint top scorer in the Nations League this season, with four, Kerem Akturkoglu will be a threat on the left flank, linking with Yunus Akgun and Baris Alper Yilmaz in attack.
For Wales, they must do without the injured quintet of Kieffer Moore, Rabbi Matondo, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns and Owen Beck.
All five pulled out of Craig Bellamy’s squad, while injury problems continue to keep both Aaron Ramdey and Oli Cooper.
This means Joe Allen should start in midfield, with a number of options to play alongside him.
Harry Wilson was the hero from the bench for Fulham in their recent comeback victory over Brentford, but is expected to start up top for Wales this weekend.
Turkey Vs Wales Predicted Lineups
Turkey Lineup:
Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Muldur; Calhanoglu, Kokcu; Akgun, Guler, Akturkoglu; B. Yilmaz
Wales Lineup:
Ward; Roberts, Rodon, Cabango, Davies; Allen, Sheehan; Johnson, Wilson, Thomas; M. Harris
Turkey Vs Wales Prediction
A win is vital for both sides in the pursuit of Nations League promotion. While Wales have been in good form, Turkey’s home record is daunting, and for that reason we believe they will take the points on Saturday.
Prediction: Turkey 2-0 Wales
