Turkey vs Bulgaria prediction, H2H and probable lineups, 15 November 2025

By Author On Nov 15, 2025

Turkey and Bulgaria go head-to-head this weekend in a friendly that still feels a bit more serious than the usual “kickabout.” Both sides are testing ideas ahead of bigger games next year, so this one could give us a good look at who’s stepping up and who’s falling behind. Expect an intense game, even if it’s just a friendly.

Form Guide

Turkey:
Turkey have been a bit up and down lately. They’re showing flashes of solid football in midfield and attack, but their defending still has moments where it gets shaky. The good thing is they’ve been really strong at home, where the energy from the fans pushes them up a level. If they start fast, Bulgaria might struggle to keep up.

Bulgaria:
Bulgaria’s recent run hasn’t been great, but they’re not pushovers. They’ve been trying to rebuild their squad with younger players, and while the results aren’t always pretty, the team fights hard. Their away form is still a concern, though—they don’t score enough and they concede at the wrong moments.

Head-to-Head

Turkey usually have the upper hand when these two meet. They’ve won more of the recent clashes and generally look more comfortable on the ball. That being said, Bulgaria have had a couple of tricky games where they kept Turkey quiet, so it’s not always a walkover. Still, history leans heavily in Turkey’s favour.

Team News

Turkey:
Most of Turkey’s main guys are available. The coach is expected to mix regular starters with a few fringe players who need minutes. The defence is the area most likely to see rotation, while the attack should remain pretty familiar.

Bulgaria:
Bulgaria come into this one with a couple of injuries in midfield, which might force some tactical tweaks. A few of their younger talents are pushing for starting spots, so we might see a slightly different shape than usual.

Probable Lineups

Turkey (Predicted XI):
Goalkeeper: Çakır
Defenders: Celik, Söyüncü, Demiral, Kadioglu
Midfield: Ayhan, Yüksek, Calhanoglu
Attack: Ünder, Yılmaz, Aktürkoğlu

Bulgaria (Predicted XI):
Goalkeeper: Naumov
Defenders: Turitsov, Zanev, Antov, Nedyalkov
Midfield: Kraev, Yankov, Iliev
Attack: Despodov, Delev, Kostadinov

Players to Watch

Turkey – Hakan Çalhanoğlu:
Everything creative usually runs through him. If he gets enough time on the ball, Turkey will dominate the tempo.

Bulgaria – Kiril Despodov:
Their main attacking spark. If Bulgaria have any chance of causing problems, it’ll likely come from his runs or set pieces.

Match Prediction

Turkey should have the edge here—better squad depth, home advantage, and more reliable attacking options. Bulgaria can grind out a tough performance, but unless Turkey have an off-day, the hosts should control this one.

Prediction: Turkey 2–0 Bulgaria

Betting Tips

Turkey to win – safest pick considering the gap in recent form.
Under 3.5 goals – these games rarely turn into high-scoring shootouts.
Both teams NOT to score – Bulgaria don’t travel well in attack.
Anytime scorer: Burak Yılmaz – always a threat in the box.

Wrap-Up

This might be a friendly on paper, but it’s a good test for both teams. Turkey will want to show they’re progressing, while Bulgaria need a confidence boost. Expect a competitive match with Turkey likely coming out on top. Let’s see who takes their chance to shine.