Bulgaria vs Lithuania prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-13 16:00.
A meeting between Euro 2024 qualifying Group G’s bottom two is set to take place when Bulgaria host Lithuania, with both sides locked on two points after identical winless starts to their campaigns (D2, L3). The reverse fixture accounts for half of each team's points when they played out a 1-1 draw in June – the first stalemate between the two countries in four H2Hs (BUL: W2, L1).
Although Group G features nations that are ranked higher than Bulgaria – Serbia (28th), Hungary (32nd), and Montenegro (68th) – the hosts (78th) will still be highly disappointed with their recent output. The Lions’ faithful fans must be wondering when they are going to turn the tide and be competitive once again, with just one win in their last six home matches (D2, L3) showing why they are all but out of contention to be in Germany next year, although victory here would keep them alive mathematically of reaching a first major tournament since Euro 2004.
Opponents Lithuania, on the other hand, are yet to make their first appearance in any tournament finals as an independent nation, but are in the same precarious situation of needing three points to give themselves any sort of chance of progressing. Not much is expected of the Eastern Europeans though given that they’re ranked 143rd in the world, but a current 15-game winless streak (D4, L11) is a barren run even by their standards.
On the road, eight matches without victory (D1, L7) masks some brave defensive efforts, having conceded no more than twice in any of those eight encounters. However, putting the ball in the net at the other end has proved the country’s Achilles heel, with just one goal scored during that period. Yet to win since the start of his second spell in charge, manager Edgaras Jankauskas will be desperate for that to change.
Players to watch: Bulgarian captain Kiril Despodov will want to get his team off to a good start once again, having opened the scoring in five of his last six international goalscoring appearances. Lithuania might then need to rely on the services of Fedor ÄŚernych, who has netted four of his last seven goals in national colours after the 75th minute.
Hot stat: There have been over 2.5 goals scored in only three of Bulgaria’s last 12 matches.