EURO 2024 Round of 16: Austria vs. Turkey

Preview

Austria and Turkey will face off in the Round of 16 of Euro 2024 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany. Both teams finished second in their respective groups and will be looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.

Head-to-Head

This will be the first meeting between Austria and Turkey at a major men's tournament. In their last encounter in March 2024, Austria won 6-1 in a friendly match in Vienna. However, in competitive matches, Turkey are unbeaten in their last five games against Austria, keeping a clean sheet each time.

Team Form

Austria had an impressive group stage, winning two of their three matches and finishing second in Group D with a 2-0-1 record. They scored six goals, ranking second in the competition, and have a goal differential of +2. Over the past two years in international play, Austria has netted 37 goals (1.2 per game) compared to 27 goals conceded (1.6 per game).

Turkey also went 2-0-1 in the group stage but finished second in Group F due to their 3-0 loss to first-place Portugal. They scored five goals in three matches, ranking third in the competition[4]. In their last 10 matches across all competitions, the Turks have posted a 5-3-2 record. Over the past two years, Turkey has scored 26 goals (1.5 per game) and has let in 15 goals (0.9 per).

Key Players

Austria will rely on the likes of Christoph Baumgartner, Florian Grillitsch, Marcel Sabitzer, and Romano Schmid. Turkey will look to Kerem Akturkoglu, Cenk Tosun, Ismail Yuksek, and Hakan Calhanoglu, although the latter will miss the match due to suspension.

Predictions

According to the Opta supercomputer, Austria has a 48.2% chance of winning inside 90 minutes and a 57.4% chance of progressing to the quarterfinals. The moneyline odds favor Austria at -115 to advance, while Turkey stands at +350. The over/under for total goals scored is set at 2.5, with the under at -115 and the over at -110.

The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams looking to make their mark in the Euro 2024 tournament. With both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this Round of 16 clash.

The Bad Tackle

This match has the potential of going either way. Don't put too much trust on the odds. This will be decided on the pitch. It will boil down to the breaks and who capitalises on them first. This will be another slugfest.