Date of Tips: 08/10/2025
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (15:50 08/10/2025) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Date: Saturday, 11 October 2025
Kick-off time: 19:45
Venue: National Stadium Vasil Levski, Sofia
Another round of World Cup qualifiers, and this one’s got a bit of edge to it. Bulgaria are desperate for a win — it’s been a long, tough run — while Turkey are licking their wounds after a heavy defeat to Spain.
So, will Bulgaria finally give their fans something to cheer about, or will Turkey get straight back on track? Let’s find out.
Let’s be honest — things aren’t looking great for Bulgaria right now. They’re on a seven-game winless run and just got brushed aside 3-0 by Georgia. The fans were frustrated, and you can’t blame them.
The defense has been all over the place lately, leaking 16 goals in their last six games, and the attack hasn’t offered much going forward either — only four goals scored in that stretch.
Coach Ilian Iliev has been trying to shuffle things around, but nothing’s really clicking. He’s likely to stick with Kiril Despodov as the main man out wide. The Ludogorets winger’s got pace and flair, and honestly, he’s one of the few players who looks like making something happen. Expect him to lead the charge again, probably supported by Georgi Rusev and Bozhidar Kraev up top.
The big worry is confidence — you can see it’s missing. And with Turkey coming in hungry for redemption, that’s a dangerous mix.
Turkey, on the other hand, were absolutely hammered by Spain — 6-0. Brutal, right? But don’t let that fool you. This is still a strong side with plenty of attacking power.
The best news for them? Baris Yilmaz is back from suspension. He brings that spark and aggression up front they badly missed last time. Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler is also expected to start — and if you’ve watched him lately, you know he’s got that special touch.
Vincenzo Montella’s sticking with his core group: Hakan Calhanoglu to run things in midfield, Ozan Kabak and Merih Demiral at the back, and Cengiz Under on the wing. This team can play fast, technical football, and they’ll be keen to prove that the Spain game was just a one-off.
Bulgaria: Naumov; Turitsov, Antov, Hristov, Nedyalkov; Yankov, Karabelyov; Despodov, Kraev, Rusev; Delev
Turkey: Gunok; Celik, Kabak, Demiral, Kadioglu; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Under, Guler, Yilmaz; Akturkoglu
Turkey love to play open football, and Bulgaria’s defence just can’t seem to hold firm for 90 minutes.
Bulgaria will fight — especially in front of their home crowd — but the Turks should have too much quality all over the pitch. With Guler pulling the strings and Calhanoglu dictating the tempo, expect Turkey to create plenty of chances.
Some betting angles worth a look:
I can’t see Bulgaria turning things around just yet. They’ll put in a shift early on, maybe frustrate Turkey for a bit, but once that first goal goes in, the game could open up fast.
Turkey have the pace, the creativity, and the form to control this one. And with players like Yilmaz and Guler hungry to make an impact, you can expect them to push hard from the first whistle.
Match Prediction: Turkey to win. Bet with bet365.
You know what? I’m leaning towards a 2-0 Turkey win. Bulgaria might have a few moments, but Turkey’s quality should shine through.
If you’re chasing a higher price, 3-1 Turkey also makes sense — especially if Bulgaria get one late.
Correct Score Prediction: Bulgaria 0-2 Turkey. Bet with bet365.
Let’s look at the numbers.
Turkey’s last six games have seen 3.67 goals per match on average, and five of those matches had three or more goals. Bulgaria’s defence has been leaking goals left and right, so there’s every reason to expect another high-scoring game here.
Over/Under Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals. Bet with bet365.
Here’s a combo I like for Saturday night:
That’s your “attacking football special.” It fits perfectly with how I see this one playing out — Turkey dominate, goals flow, and Guler gets his moment.
Bet Builder Tip: Turkey to Win, BTTS Yes, Guler Anytime Scorer. Bet with bet365.
Key Stats
18+. New customers only. Min deposit £20. Max One £10 Free Bet & two £5 Bet Builder Free Bets.. Qualifying Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus tokens with Min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. Token 2& 3 are valid for Bet Builder only and are subject to min odds of 2/1 (3.00) T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org #ad
Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
Turkey are strong favourites and should take all three points in Sofia.
A 2-0 win for Turkey looks likely, but 3-1 wouldn’t be a shock either.
At the National Stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Kick-off is at 19:45 local time on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
Top Casinos
Top New Bookmakers
Top Offers
Top Rated Bookmakers
Here you'll find football corners betting tips from our expert football analyst, Liam Johnson. All of the corner predictions published here on WhichBookie are 100% free.
Best Football Bookies
