Published Jun 4, 7:24pm ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 4, 7:24pm ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 4, 7:24pm ET
Turkey and Paraguay meet on matchday 2 of Group D at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, with both sides coming off their opening fixtures against Australia and the United States respectively.
Arda Güler leads a Turkey attack that carries genuine Champions League pedigree into this tournament.
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| Turkey | -145 |
| DRAW | +240 |
| Paraguay | +350 |
Arda Güler is 21 years old and spent this season leading all Real Madrid players in chances created. He supplied 14 assists and scored six times in La Liga, and was named the Champions League's Revelation of the Season. Kenan Yıldız operates alongside him at Juventus, averaging 3.5 completed dribbles per 90 minutes in qualifying — a figure only two players in UEFA competition bettered. These are not prospects. They are the real thing.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu anchors the midfield from Inter Milan, distributing and directing from deep with the composure of a player who has done this at the highest level for years. Turkey beat Bulgaria 6-1 and Georgia 4-1 in qualifying, held Spain to a 2-2 draw on the road, and arrive with real attacking momentum. The 0-6 loss to Spain on another occasion is the one blemish, but against Paraguay's defensive setup, the gap in creative quality is hard to ignore.
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Paraguay scraped into this tournament the hard way. They finished sixth in CONMEBOL qualifying with 28 points, level with Brazil, surviving on goal difference and results in the final weeks. Gustavo Alfaro has built a defensively organized side captained by Palmeiras centre-back Gustavo Gómez, and they will set up to be difficult to break down. That is their plan and they execute it with discipline.
The problem is the attack. Miguel Almirón is 32 and the undisputed creative engine of this squad. He drifts from the left into the number 10 space, links play, and presses from the front. Everything runs through him. Diego Gómez at Brighton adds quality in midfield, and Julio Enciso offers a threat from Strasbourg. But none of them are operating at the level of Turkey's front three. If Alfaro's back line holds firm, Paraguay can nick a point. If Turkey find space in behind, this becomes a long night for La Albirroja.
Güler and Yıldız against a Paraguay defence that earned its place by grinding out results in South America. Turkey's creative quality is the edge here, and it shows up in every attacking metric from qualifying. Paraguay can make this uncomfortable, but not uncomfortable enough.
Pick: Turkey -145
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Pick
Turkey -145
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