Cyprus vs Greece prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League C betting tips on match 2022-09-23 18:45.
Cyprus’ League C status in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) hangs by a thread after a winless Group C2 campaign thus far (D2, L2). The hosts need to pick up points and hope Northern Ireland’s results go their way in these concluding two fixtures in order to avoid the need for another play-off match. That’s how their last UNL campaign concluded in March where they overcame Estonia 2-0 on aggregate to retain their place in League C for this edition.
The White and Blues will feel they should have at least two more points on the board after blowing a 2-0 lead against relegation rivals Northern Ireland last time out, conceding an equaliser in the 94th minute! That result sparked the end of Nikos Kostenoglou’s time as manager, with his replacement Temur Ketsbaia expected to steer FIFA’s 108th ranked nation to new heights.
A short trip across the Mediterranean awaits opponents Greece, who have made a mockery of UNL Group C2, winning all of their four matches without conceding a goal. As a result, the Greeks are the only side in this UNL tournament to wrap up promotion after matchday four, having participated in League C since the UNL’s inception.
This doesn’t mean FIFA’s 49th ranked nation have nothing to play for, as they are on the verge of winning five competitive matches in a row for the first time in almost nine years. Manager Gus Poyet will be leveraging Greece’s record against Cyprus to achieve that feat, as the Greeks have lost only three of their 31 H2Hs (W21, D7).
Players to watch: Cyprus will be hoping Pieros Sotiriou can guide them out of the trouble they’re in, considering six of his last seven international goals have arrived at home, while the Greeks will lean on Petros Mantalos to continue their fine form, with his five goals in national colours having all led to wins.
Hot stat: Cyprus have seen the same half-time result replicated at full-time in 14 of their last 18 home matches.