Turkey vs Hungary Predictions

• Both teams have not scored in Turkey’s last two Nations League home games
• Both teams have not scored in Hungary’s last three Nations League away matches
• Turkey have won four of their last six home games and kept clean sheets in three of them

First strike the key to victory in Istanbul

The first goal could be crucial when Hungary play their 1000th international fixture away to Turkey in the Nations League promotion play-offs on Thursday. Marco Rossi’s side have been inconsistent on the road recently and can either be brilliant or disappointing as the mood takes them.

Nemzeti Tizenegy will be boosted by the return of in-form RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, who almost single-handedly prevented Borussia Dortmund from scoring in his last match. They were mismatched in Nations League A alongside the Netherlands and Germany, but did keep two clean sheets in a win and a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This trip to Istanbul will not be for the faint-hearted, so Rossi is likely to name the recalled goalkeeper in his starting XI and trust the core of the side that have done Hungary proud in the last few years.

Hungary may try to hold out for return leg

Turkey are without a whole list of talented stars, including suspended duo Merih Demiral and Arda Güler. Injuries to Altay Bayindir, Caglar Soyuncu, Dogan Alemdar, Enes Unal, Ferdi Kadioglu, Ozan Kabak, Yusuf Yazici and Zeki Celik will mean opportunities for some others, but there is usually no substitute for experience at international level.

Hungary may sense an opportunity in this clash, or they may wait for the return clash in Budapest to make their move. Either way, the first leg is likely to be cagey as Hungary set their stall out to be hard to beat and Vincenzo Montella works out if he can risk throwing men forward in attack.

Both teams to score no looks a good play in the circumstances because the respective home and away results of these teams also suggest that a clean sheet is never far away. Turkey have shut out three of their last four opponents on home soil while Hungary have not scored in two of their last three away trips.