Friday night sees Belgium host winless Turkey at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne with a 7.45pm kick-off, and our Belgium vs Turkey predictions expect a tight game as Mark van Bommel’s side look to bounce back from a late defeat by France.
Anthony Eadson’s Belgium vs Turkey predictions, best bets and score prediction are below.
Premium Tips
Our two Premium Tips for Belgium vs Turkey are below.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2.5 goals | 9/5 (William Hill) | Goals have been hard to come by in Group A1, with three of the four Nations League games involving these sides producing fewer than three goals. Belgium have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven home games and drew 1-1 with Egypt and 0-0 with Iran at the World Cup. Turkey have failed to score in three of their last five matches and arrive without Hakan Calhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz, their two chief creators. History points the same way, as three of the last four meetings between the nations finished with two goals or fewer. With Diego Moreira suspended and Jeremy Doku absent, Belgium are short of attacking options too. |
| Draw | 18/5 (Betfred) | Belgium have won only one of their last seven meetings with Turkey, and three of the last five have ended level, including a 1-1 draw in Brussels in the most recent clash in June 2011. Belgium drew two of their three World Cup group games under Rudi Garcia and were held twice by North Macedonia in qualifying. They have also failed to score in two of their last four home games, a 0-0 draw with North Macedonia and Monday’s 1-0 defeat to France. Turkey are desperate for a first point after two defeats, and they showed at the World Cup, where they beat the United States 3-2, that they can trouble good sides. A share of the spoils at 18/5 is worth backing. |
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How Belgium go into the game
Van Bommel’s reign started with a 2-0 win over Italy in Rome, where Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio scored, before Michael Olise’s 88th-minute strike earned France a 1-0 win in Brussels on Monday. That was only the second defeat in Belgium’s last 21 matches, with the other a 2-1 World Cup quarter-final loss to Spain.
Diego Moreira is suspended after picking up a booking against France, while Thibaut Courtois and Jeremy Doku are not in the squad. Romeo Lavia needs assessing after going off late on Monday. At home, the Red Devils have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven games, although they have failed to score in two of the last four.
How Turkey go into the game
Turkey, promoted from League B, sit bottom of Group A1 without a point after losing 1-0 at home to France and 4-1 at home to Italy in Bursa. Vincenzo Montella’s side have lost four of their last five matches and failed to score in three of them, including World Cup group defeats to Australia and Paraguay.
Hakan Calhanoglu, Kenan Yildiz and Mert Muldur remain out injured, but goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir is available again after serving a ban for his red card against France. Orkun Kokcu shook off a toe problem to start against Italy, and Baris Alper Yilmaz pulled a goal back just after half-time in that game.
Belgium vs Turkey head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/06/11 | Belgium | 1-1 | Turkey |
| 07/09/10 | Turkey | 3-2 | Belgium |
| 10/10/09 | Belgium | 2-0 | Turkey |
| 10/09/08 | Turkey | 1-1 | Belgium |
| 24/05/06 | Belgium | 3-3 | Turkey |
Only one of the last seven meetings has ended in a Belgian win, a 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory in October 2009. Turkey won 3-2 at home the following September before a 1-1 draw in Brussels in June 2011, the most recent meeting. Both teams have scored in nine of the 11 matches between the nations.
Belgium vs Turkey predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2.5 goals | 9/5 (William Hill) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Three of the four Nations League games involving these sides have had fewer than three goals. |
| Draw | 18/5 (Betfred) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Three of the last five meetings have been drawn and Belgium have won only one of the last seven. |
| Both teams to score | 8/15 (Betfred) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Both teams have scored in nine of the 11 meetings between the nations. |
Belgium vs Turkey score prediction
Turkey’s injury problems make Van Bommel’s side clear favourites, but the numbers point to a tighter game than the odds suggest. Three of the last five meetings have been drawn, and only one of the four Nations League games involving these teams has produced more than two goals. Score prediction: Belgium 1-1 Turkey.
