Norway vs Austria prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-09-08 18:45.
[p]The opening matchday of UEFA Nations League B (UNL) suggested that Group 3 is going to be very tightly contested, so head-to-head tiebreakers could potentially come into play between the group’s two highest-ranked nations, Norway and Austria. Norway will have to swiftly and significantly lift their game after failing to beat UNL B newcomers Kazakhstan (0-0) in Almaty, continuing a fairly miserable 2024 in which they have won just once (D2, L2). [/p]
[p]Head coach Ståle Solbakken was bitterly disappointed with the result, lamenting some “terrible set pieces” and what he assessed as Kazakhstan’s superiority in aerial contests, but he did at least remain buoyed by the number of chances the team created along the way. To have any chance of topping the group, Norway are likely going to have to improve upon the four points they earned at home during the last UNL cycle, particularly as the home loss to group winners Serbia ultimately cost them promotion. [/p]
[p]Austria also dropped points they perhaps should not have, drawing as favourites away to Slovenia (1-1) upon their return to UNL League B after being relegated from the top tier during the last cycle. It nonetheless continued a fairly admirable period of football that has seen them lose just three of 13 matches in official UEFA competitions (W8, D2) since they were relegated from UNL League A in 2023. [/p]
[p]Much like his upcoming adversary, Austria boss Ralf Rangnick was willing to forgive the result in Slovenia, lambasting the state of the pitch in Ljubljana whilst describing the circumstances leading to Benjamin Šeško’s penalty goal as “controversial”. Approaching their first trip to Norway since a 2-1 win in 2020 in the UNL, Rangnick and his players should be confident having won all but two of seven matches (D2) on opposition soil since the end of the previous UNL. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Norway could benefit from Alexander Sørloth rediscovering his best in front of goal, as they remain undefeated when he scores (W12, D4). Austria have enjoyed some handy contributions from Konrad Laimer in recent years, with three of his last four international goals coming in away wins or draws. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Austria conceded at least one goal in each of their last eight matches including friendlies.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy [/i][/p]