Hungary vs Bulgaria prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-03-26 18:45.
Hungary head coach Marco Rossi is demanding more from his players as they get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign underway against Bulgaria. The Magyars may have beaten Estonia 1-0 in a friendly on Thursday, but the defiant boss declared he was ânot satisfiedâ with a number of aspects of their performance, particularly Dominik Szoboszlai and Roland Sallai using a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who should take a penalty, which the latter missed in the second half.
Despite Rossiâs frustrations, that was an eighth win for Hungary in their last 13 matches (D2, L3), a period that includes a pair of UEFA Nations League victories over FIFAâs #5 ranked side, England. That kind of form will be needed as they look to win their opening group game in European Championship qualification for the first time in ten attempts (D3, L6), a run that stretches back to 1983!
Standing in their way are Bulgaria, who suffered their second-heaviest defeat at the hands of Hungary in 1947 (9-0) and have won just four of the previous 25 meetings between the two sides (D8, L13)! That doesnât bode well for the Lions, whose Euro 2024 qualifying campaign got off to a losing start when they were defeated 1-0 by Montenegro on Friday.
Theyâll hope that was just a blip as it was the first time they had been beaten under manager Mladen KrstajiÄ, who took charge last year and had won three of his previous four games (D1), conceding just one goal in the process. A swift return to winning ways is now required as Bulgaria, who have not qualified for a major tournament since Euro 2004, look to end a run of just three victories in their last 29 away fixtures (D11, L15 – excludes tournaments).
Players to watch: Martin ĂdĂĄmâs last eight goalscoring appearances for club or country have been the first or last of the game after he netted his maiden international goal in Hungaryâs win over Estonia. He may be trying to outscore Bulgaria captain Kiril Despodov, who is looking for his first goal in European Championship qualifiers and has peculiarly lost six of his previous seven games (W1).
Hot streak: Bulgaria have not won any of the last 23 away matches in which they have conceded the first goal, a run which dates back to May 2012 (D3, L20 – excludes tournaments).