Norway vs Kazakhstan prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League B betting tips on match 2024-11-16 17:00.
[p]Two sides who have endured vastly different UEFA Nations League (UNL) campaigns meet as Norway host Kazakhstan for the final B3 group game of this cycle. Sitting level on points with group toppers Austria but behind due to a vastly inferior goal difference, the Norwegians now rely not only on winning this game but also on Austria dropping points when they meet Slovenia on Sunday, though they are at least assured of a promotion play-off spot. [/p]
[p]They’ll feel confident about holding up their end of the bargain, having suffered defeat just once in the five group games this campaign (W3, D1) in a streak capped off by a 4-1 demolition of Slovenia last time out. This is anything but a done deal however, as that draw came against this opposition back on matchday one (0-0), which was the first time they had failed to find the back of the net since October 2023! [/p]
[p]They surely won’t be expecting their opposition to put up much of a fight, with that draw the only point Kazakhstan have picked up so far (L4)! They’re now already relegated to League C and thus a surprise triumph is less than expected for a side who haven’t netted this UNL campaign and last won a competitive game in November last year (D1, L6)! [/p]
[p]Therefore it’s somewhat logical that the picture is not any brighter on the road for FIFA’s #107 ranked side, with Kazakhstan having lost their last four competitive away games, finding the back of the net just once whilst conceding 14 times. That includes a pair of heavy defeats in this UNL campaign (4-0 to Austria and 3-0 to Slovenia), so home fans may be feeling confident of seeing their side strike multiple goals when the sides meet![/p]
[p]Key battle: Norway’s Alexander Sørloth has been in impressive form for his country, grabbing goal contributions from three of their five UNL games this campaign (G2, A2) – four of his last five goals for club and country have arrived in the second half. After five goalless games for Kazakhstan, forward Maksim Samorodov scored Kazakhstan’s last goal in a friendly win back in June – four of his last five club goals have arrived in the first half![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Kazakhstan haven’t scored a competitive second-half goal from open play since November 2023! [/p]
[p][i]Written by Luke Bridle[/i][/p]