Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League C betting tips on match 2024-11-17 19:45.
[p]Reeling from their longest winless run since 2019 (D2, L5), Luxembourg’s 1-0 loss at home to Bulgaria on Friday night formally condemned them to a last-place finish in Group C3 of the UEFA Nations League, but a slight tweak in the promotion-relegation play-offs format means they’ll still be fighting for their survival when hosting group leaders Northern Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg. [/p]
[p]With their two points from five rounds (D2, L3), Luxembourg started the final matchday as one of the two best fourth placed teams, which would put them in a two-legged play-off with a League D promotion aspirant. Their defence has been by far the best of the fourth-placed teams heading into this matchday, underlined by keeping similarly ranked teams Bulgaria and Belarus to single goals (L 1-0) in their two home matches so far, but a single goal scored across five matches means they’re unlikely to threaten one of the strongest defensive units of League C.[/p]
[p]Northern Ireland top the group courtesy of conceding only one goal from their five games so far (W3, D1, L1), and even that was only because of a horrendous goalkeeping blunder from Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the 1-0 loss away to Bulgaria. They hold the head-to-head advantage over second-placed Bulgaria courtesy of a 5-0 victory at home, which means one point is all they need from this match to confirm their return to League B, which they last contested in 2020/21.[/p]
[p]But their manager Michael O’Neill has already declared they have no intention of settling for a draw, declaring he wants to “show we can win away from home” following that loss in Bulgaria and 0-0 stalemate with Belarus in Hungary. Their 1-0 friendly win as big outsiders in Scotland earlier this year, coupled with a 3-1 triumph in their most recent visit to Luxembourg, demonstrates they’ve got nothing to be afraid of here. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Danel Sinani remains the most recent goalscorer for Luxembourg in any home match, boasting a near-perfect W10, D1 record when he scores for his country. Similarly, defender Daniel Ballard popped up to score in two of Northern Ireland’s three victories in this group stage. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nine of the first ten matches of Group C3 witnessed fewer than 2.5 total goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]