As the game will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, neither team has home advantage, yet although they have had an extra day of rest, Turkey has had to travel from Rome after they were swept aside 3-0 in their first-round match against Italy which took place on home soil for the Italians.
Turkey is now the only team in group A to be without a point, after they lost to Italy and Switzerland and Wales could only draw in their first games and will surely be looking to bounce back after they were made to look pretty average by one of the favourites for the tournament.
The Crescent-Stars will hope to improve the supply line to star man Burak Yılmaz this time round, but Wales have an attacking spearhead of their own in Kieffer Moore.
In six head to heads in this fixture Turkey have W2, L3, D1. And in only one of their six head to heads, have both sides scored. Turkey have scored seven and conceded ten goals across six games against Wales.
Turkey are 2/40 to win the game and Wales are 2/30 to win the game.
- Previous defensive record:
Turkey conceded three goals to favourites Italy, without reply in their first game of this tournament, whereas Wales have a tighter result where they could only muster up a 1-1 draw with their Swiss opponents.
35-year-old Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz hit a quarter of Lille’s goals on the way to the Ligue 1 title this season including five match openers. Kieffer Moore’s (Wales) six international goals have been headers, and he is currently averaging one goal in every three international appearances (six from 18).
There seems to be no injury concerns for either side after matchday one.
Turkey possible line-up: Uğurcan Çakır; Mehmet Zeki Çelik, Merih Demiral, Çağlar Söyüncü, Cengiz Umut Meraş; Kaan Ayhan, Ozan Tufan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İrfan Can Kahveci, Cengiz Ünder; Burak Yılmaz
Wales possible line-up: Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Morrell, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore
Managers view:
Şenol Güneş, Turkey: “We lost against the host team on the opening night. We were expecting a better performance; we fell short of our own standards of play, but the race continues, regardless of whether we lost or won. We have two more games ahead of us. It’s time to focus on Wales now.”
Robert Page, Wales: “To get off to a positive start was important for us. We go into every game for the win. If four points is enough [to qualify], brilliant. If not we’ll keep going. We respect the teams that are in this group and competition, but we don’t fear anybody.”
Last six form guide (most recent first):
Turkey: LWDWDW
Wales: DDLWWL
Turkey will hope that game one was a loss because of the nerves of kicking off first in a tournament that should have taken place last year.
They will take confidence in the fact that more fans will be on their side in Baku after a limited capacity of fans were able to travel to Rome, and with fans in full voice they will be hoping the 12th man can push them over the line to get their first win in the tournament they did so well to qualify for.
The one confidence booster Wales can look for though is the fact that they have a strong record on Azerbaijani soil W3, D1 which may provide a confidence booster should they concede to Turkey.
Both teams should no doubt be ready to produce some top-quality football as they look to chase three points to keep themselves in the group with chances to be able to progress.
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