Moldova vs Turkey Predictions

After beating Andorra last time out, Turkey find themselves level on points with Group H leaders France, which means that they’re likely to go to Moldova full of confidence. Tuesday’s hosts stand little chance of progressing, but that shouldn’t stop them fighting for what would be their second win in qualifying.

They’re not bottom of the group, thanks to the Andorrans, but there’s been very little for Moldova to shout about in qualifying. Tuesday’s hosts have found it incredibly tough to compete (at both ends of the pitch). They do have three points on the board courtesy of 1-0 victory over bottom-of-the-pile Andorra, but they’ve scored just two goals in five matches and have conceded a worrying 13. They tiny hope of getting close to a top two position that they had at the start of the campaign is now very much a thing of the past.

Even on their own patch, the Moldovans have come up short. Even when beating Andorra by a goal to nil at this venue, Tuesday’s hosts created a negative impression, as they failed to stamp their authority on the game, creating a measly 0.49 expected goals and registering just a single shot on target.

Moreover, the reverse of this fixture showed just how inferior Moldova really are. When the pair met earlier in the campaign, Turkey won by four goals to nil. On that occasion, the Moldovans failed to test Turkish keeper Mert Gunok.

While Moldova have had little to shout about, the Turks have enjoyed a pleasing campaign; they currently occupy 2^nd position and are only behind the world champions on goal difference. Given that Iceland who’re in hot pursuit of the top two, have a tricky match against the Albanians coming up, this is a gilt-edged opportunity for Turkey to cement themselves as favourites to qualify.

In the betting, ‘Turkey to Win & Under 2.5 Goals’ catches the eye. Although the Turks battered Moldova in Istanbul earlier in the campaign, they’ve not been as cavalier on the road. Away in Iceland recently, Tuesday’s visitors found it tough to be at their attacking best, scoring just once, while the manner in which they got the better of Albania in low-scoring fashion earlier in qualifying suggests that the chances of Şenol Güneş’ men returning from Moldova with a low-key win are slightly greater than the early prices suggest.