Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
Poor results in November cost Turkey direct promotion to the elite division of the Nations League. They will now face Hungary in the play-offs—a team that failed to compete with Germany and the Netherlands, lacking top-level players across the pitch.
Turkey
With the current coaching staff, Turkey focus on maintaining balance: a solid defensive midfield helps the backline, while much of the attacking creativity relies on Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız. In the final group-stage match of the Nations League, they suffered an undeserved defeat in Montenegro (1:3), despite creating twice as many chances (1.63–0.87 in xG and 21–10 in shots). At home, Turkey collected seven points from seven group matches, conceding just once on home soil.
Hungary
Hungary achieved their primary goal in the autumn by pulling away from fellow strugglers Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, they struggled against stronger opposition, scoring just twice across four meetings with Germany and the Netherlands while suffering two heavy away defeats (0:9 on aggregate). Apart from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hungary lack a clear leader as the squad undergoes a generational transition.
Turkey vs Hungary Prediction
Both Turkey and Hungary are likely to adopt a cautious approach in Istanbul. A year ago, these teams played a dull friendly with just one goal, extending a four-match streak of under 2.5 goals in their head-to-head meetings. Given this trend, we expect another low-scoring encounter.
