Norway and Turkey will be looking to build on winning starts to World Cup 2022 qualifying when they meet at Estadio La Rosaleda in Malaga on Saturday evening.
The fixture is being staged on neutral territory due to coronavirus travel restrictions, though Norway are the designated home team for this intriguing Group G clash.
Match preview
Turkey's qualifying campaign got off to a flier with a 4-2 victory over the Netherlands in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Veteran striker Burak Yilmaz scored a hat-trick and Hakan Calhanoglu was also on target for the Crescent-Stars, who led by three goals with 46 minutes played.
The emphatic nature of the scoreline may have come as a surprise, but Turkey had previously taken points off France, Germany and World Cup runners-up Croatia over the last 18 months.
Senol Gunes's men have laid down a marker with their win against the Netherlands and will now be looking to push on here against a Norway side also in good form.
The Lions eased to a 3-0 win over minnows Gibraltar in their Group G opener through goals from Alexander Sorloth, Kristian Thorstvedt and Jonas Svensson in a 13-minute burst either side of half time.
That made it three wins, one draw and one defeat in five games since losing to Serbia in October's Euro 2020 qualifying playoff tie.
Going further back, Stale Solbakken's charges have lost only lost five of their last 28 matches and have their eyes set on a first World Cup finals appearance since 1998.
Turkey last qualified for the quadrennial tournament in 2002, when famously finishing third, and they will see this as a huge opportunity to end that long wait.
The Crescent-Stars have lost only three of their last 22 matches, though they are winless in four on their travels, drawing three of those matches.
This will be the ninth meeting between these sides, the most recent of those finishing in a 2-1 win for Turkey in Euro 2008 qualifying.
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- D
- D
- D
- W
- L
- W
Team News
Turkey are without Leicester City midfielder Cengiz Under, so Yusuf Yazici will continue to operate out on the right.
Gunes has a number of attacking options, yet Yilmaz more than took his opportunity against the Netherlands last time out and will almost certainly retain his place up top.
Enes Unal and Kaan Ayhan were second-half substitutes in midweek and could come into the XI here, but not many changes are expected on the back of such a memorable victory.
As for Norway, Solbakken named a surprisingly strong lineup against Gibraltar, despite this showdown with Turkey coming just three days later.
Erling Braut Haaland did not add to his six international goals last time out, but he will have another chance to do so in Malaga, while Martin Odegaard will also start again.
The 'hosts' have a couple of big selection calls to make elsewhere as the likes of Joshua King, Jens Petter Hague and Patrick Berg are all pushing for recalls.
Norway possible starting lineup:
Jarstein; Svensson, Ajer, Strandberg, Meling; Thorstvedt, Midtsjo, Elyounoussi; Odegaard; Sorloth, Haaland
Turkey possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Celik; Kabak, Soyuncu, Meras; Yokuslu; Yazici, Tufan, Calhanoglu, Karaman; Yilmaz
We say: Norway 1-1 Turkey
Both teams have been tough to beat over the past couple of years and each are capable of producing big performances.
Turkey showed exactly what they are capable of with their win against the Netherlands and would likely welcome a point on Saturday, which we can see them earning.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
