Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of Wednesday's international friendlies will unfold at Kenan Memorial Stadium, where Mexico faces off against Turkey. I'm tipping this clash to deliver goals, with strong odds for a successful bet.
Match preview
The Mexican national team heads into this friendly aiming to restore confidence and stability ahead of the upcoming home World Cup. Their CONCACAF Nations League triumph over Panama brought some relief to supporters, but a crushing 2-4 defeat to Switzerland exposed persistent defensive flaws. Despite occasional bursts of energy, Javier Aguirre's side has yet to show the desired level of control and cohesion.
Mexico remains a threat going forward: they've scored at least twice in four of their last five matches. Players like Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Giménez, and Sepúlveda are capable of creating chances, but midfield instability often hampers their ability to capitalize in key moments.
Turkey, on the other hand, is on an upward trajectory, having strung together three consecutive wins, each marked by grit and determination. Their 2-1 away victory over the USA underlines the squad's maturity and readiness to go toe-to-toe with teams from other continents. Given Mexico’s shaky form, the Turkish side can approach this fixture with confidence and even look to dictate the tempo.
The team boasts an array of exciting young talents, including Arda Güler, who has already made a name for himself at Real Madrid. Over their last four matches, Turkey has netted nine goals, scoring at least once in each of their last four away games—a clear signal that they're in form and will create attacking opportunities against Mexico.
Probable lineups
- Mexico: Malagón, Araújo, Guzmán, Vázquez, Angulo, Romo, Lira, Alvarado, Pineda, Valera, Giménez
- Turkey: Günok – Ayhan, Topçu, Elmalı, Bardakcı – Kökçü, Yokuşlu – Çalhanoğlu, Güler, Yıldız – Aktürkoğlu
Match facts and head-to-head
- The 'Over 2.5 goals' bet has hit in Turkey’s last three matches
- Turkey has won three straight, including an away victory over the USA.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between Mexico and Turkey at senior international level.
Prediction
This promises to be an open, entertaining encounter: both sides pack plenty of attacking quality but also have defensive issues. Mexico will look to bounce back in front of their home fans and likely take the initiative, but in their current form, Turkey are more than capable of striking back on the counter. Given the recent statistics and scoring trends for both teams, betting on both teams to score looks like a logical choice.
