Austria vs Kazakhstan prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-10-09 18:45.
[p]Austria have struggled on their return to League B of the UEFA Nations League (UNL), with their opening two matches against Slovenia (1-1) and Norway (2-1) failing to deliver a win. Combined with their ill-fated campaign in League A during the last cycle, there’s now no win in seven games in the UNL for Ralf Rangnick’s side (D2, L5), which is a big reason why there are five new players in the squad compared to September’s call-ups, with Michael Gregoritsch, Andreas Weimann and Gernot Trauner all returning. [/p]
[p]Their winless run in all competitions doesn’t look quite as troublesome, with the defeat in Norway just a third outing without a victory. That’s come on the back of two impressive wins against Poland and Netherlands at Euro 2024, so Rangnick knows his side can produce much better. Yet to do so, they need to stop being architects of their own downfall, particularly when it comes to conceding goals too quickly – Austria have conceded the opening goal inside 20 minutes in each of their past three matches. [/p]
[p]Kazakhstan are competing at this level of the UNL for the first time following an impressive promotion-winning campaign during the last cycle. They started well with a robust showing at home to Norway which delivered a 0-0 draw, however they were brought back down to earth in their away outing to Slovenia, with the 3-0 loss a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for Stanislav Cherchesov’s side. [/p]
[p]Perhaps denting the visitors further psychologically coming into this one is their winless H2H run of three matches (D2, L1) in which they failed to score at all and suffered a heavy 4-0 loss most recently. Admittedly, that defeat was way back in 2012, but losses in each of their last six trips abroad doesn’t generate much hope that they can avoid a repeat of a similarly disappointing result here. [/p]
[p]Key battle: Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has scored five international goals in the last year, with his most recent Austria strike coming in their defeat to Norway.  He’ll try and get the better of Kazakhstan goalkeeper Igor Shatskiy whose clean sheet against Norway in matchday one was one of just two shutouts from his previous 11 matches for club or country. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Kazakhstan have conceded at least once before half-time in each of their previous eight away matches. [/p]
[p][i]Written by David H[/i][/p]