The Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul will provide the venue for this upcoming clash between hosts, Turkey, and visitors, Russia, for this League B Group 3 clash as Turkey look to close the gap on the current group leaders, Russia.
It’s been a slow and frustrating campaign for Turkey as they were handed a 1-0 defeat at home to Hungary in their opening group match.
Сборы. День 2. Новогорск 🇷🇺Приезд игрков. Разминка в зале. Тренировка на поле. #СборнаяРоссии pic.twitter.com/LkLEWKC0F1— Сборная России (@TeamRussia) November 10, 2020
Сборы. День 2. Новогорск 🇷🇺Приезд игрков. Разминка в зале. Тренировка на поле. #СборнаяРоссии pic.twitter.com/LkLEWKC0F1
And although they’ve been unbeaten in each of their subsequent three matches these have all been stalemates as they’ve drawn with Serbia 0-0 (away), Russia 1-1 (away) and Serbia again 2-2 (at home).
Three points from a possible 12 on offer to date is therefore a meagre return for Sunday’s hosts, but they’ll be hoping they can grind out a win against the group leaders, Russia, with home advantage behind them in this encounter.
Overall results at home have actually been encouraging as Turkey have lost just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions but goals could be thin on the ground as seven of these 10 matches resulted in under 2.5 goals.
As mentioned earlier, Russia sit top of Group 3 with a one-point cushion over 2nd placed Hungary thanks to remaining unbeaten to date in their Nations League campaign which includes early back-to-back wins against Serbia 3-1 (home) and Hungary 3-2 (away).
However, the visitors have since failed to win any of their subsequent three matches as they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at home to Sweden, albeit in an international friendly, along with being held to back-to-back draws with Turkey and Hungary, both in 1-1 stalemates and both at home.
Russia have won their last five matches on the trot away from home though as the visitors produced impressive displays on the road during the European qualifiers with victories at Kazakhstan 4-0, Scotland 2-1, Cyprus 5-0 and San Marino 5-0, along with the aforementioned win at Hungary in the Nations League.
Although Russia have scored 19 goals in these last five away matches overall, it’s been a different story when facing Sunday’s opponents, Turkey, as six of the previous seven encounters have resulted in under 2.5 goals and goals could be at a premium again on Sunday too.