Hungary vs Turkey: Betting Odds & Prediction
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Hungary welcome Turkey to Budapest for an international friendly on Friday as both countries step up their preparations for EURO 2024.
Both sides have been in strong form and topped their qualification groups, and may take the opportunity for some experimentation with selection. Kick-off is scheduled for Friday 7.45pm UK time at the Puskas
Arena.
Recent Form
Hungary
Hungary are unbeaten in their last twelve international fixtures, going all the way back to September 2022 when they were defeated 2-0 by Italy in the UEFA Nations League. This includes an unbeaten EURO 2024 qualification campaign (P8, W5 D3) which saw them top Group G and secure automatic qualification. It is also worth noting that Hungary have not lost to Turkey in their last four meetings, dating back to 2007.
Hungary have not been short of entertainment value recently. During their unbeaten run they have scored 22 goals, at an average of 1.83 per game, and conceded eleven, averaging 0.92 per game. The total of 33 goals from the last 12 games involving Hungary means there has been an average of 2.75 goals per game, and each of their last four matches have gone over 2.5 goals.
The driving force for Hungary is their talismanic captain, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who has had injury problems for his club lately but has been included in the last pre-tournament squad here. If he plays, he will likely have a big impact on proceedings. The skipper has four goals in his last three international appearances.
Turkey
Turkey have managed to build up some real hope and excitement amongst their passionate fanbase, thanks to an influx of young talent and finishing first in Group D (P8, W5, D2, L1) ahead of Croatia and Wales. They are unbeaten in their last four matches and have picked up impressive results away from home, not least a 1-0 win in Croatia to effectively secure qualification and an historic 3-2 win in Germany.
They have also scored in their last fifteen away games, dating back to the last time they travelled to Hungary, when they lost 2-0 at the Puskas Arena all the way back in November, 2020. In their last five away games, they have scored ten and conceded nine, with an average of 3.8 total goals per game.
The big hope for the Turkish is 19-year-old Arda Güler, arguably the best player to emerge for them in a generation, but he has struggled for fitness and form this season since moving to Real Madrid from Fenerbahçe. He scored a stunning first goal for his country against Wales last year and recently got off the mark in Madrid as well, so he will be hoping to showcase his talents here and secure minutes ahead of what could be a big tournament for his country.
Prediction
This is a hard one to call as it is difficult to predict exactly what sort of team the two sides will put out, but based on form and history it is hard to look past Hungary to win. They have been in exceptional form for some time now and historically have done well against Turkey, too.
The visitors should not be discounted, given their ability to pick up some impressive scalps away from home recently, and it should be entertaining for the neutral with plenty of goals. However, OddsNow backs the home crowd to carry Hungary through to victory.