The Daily Star Ireland
Montenegro and Turkey are set to clash in Tuesday’s Nations League matchup, with both teams eager to secure a favorable outcome. Here’s a look at their recent form, head-to-head history, and predictions for the game.
Montenegro
Montenegro enters the match hoping to recover from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wales in their most recent Nations League outing. During that game, Montenegro struggled offensively, holding just 34% possession and failing to register a single shot on target from five attempts. Wales, on the other hand, created 14 chances, with Harry Wilson scoring the decisive goal in the 36th minute.
Montenegro’s recent performances have been underwhelming. They’ve managed to score only two goals in their last six matches while conceding 11. To challenge Turkey effectively, they’ll need to show significant improvement in their attacking play.
Turkey
Turkey comes into this fixture with strong momentum following a commanding 4-2 victory over Iceland. In that match, Turkey controlled 64% possession and created 24 scoring opportunities, with 12 shots on target. Goals from İrfan Can Kahveci, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Arda Güler, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu secured the win. Iceland managed 12 attempts, with Orri Steinn Óskarsson and Andri Guðjohnsen finding the net.
Under coach Vincenzo Montella, Turkey has been highly effective in attack, scoring 11 goals in their last six games, averaging 1.83 goals per match. This attacking strength will likely play a key role against Montenegro.
Head-to-Head Record
The last meeting between the two sides was on October 11, 2024, during the Nations League, where Turkey edged out Montenegro with a 1-0 win. İrfan Can Kahveci scored the only goal of the match in the 69th minute. Turkey dominated possession with 64% and registered 29 shots, nine of which were on target. Montenegro managed 10 attempts, with two on target.
Team News
Both teams have fully fit squads for this encounter. Montenegro manager Robert Prosinečki and Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella have no injury concerns, enabling them to field their strongest lineups.
Prediction
Montenegro may find the back of the net in this game, but their ongoing offensive struggles could hinder their chances of securing a win. Turkey’s recent form and superior attacking capabilities make them the favorites in this matchup.
A 2-1 victory for Turkey is the predicted result, with the game expected to be a competitive and closely fought affair. Experts also anticipate over 1.5 goals, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
