Hungary vs Lithuania prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-06-19 18:45.
Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession (65%), Hungary were held to a 0-0 draw on Saturday by Montenegro which saw them miss the chance to climb into top spot of Group I in this 2024 UEFA European Championship Qualifying (ECQ) campaign. Sitting in joint-second, they did at least extend their unbeaten run to five matches (W3, D2), securing a clean sheet in each of the last three.
Manager Marco Rossi will hope heading back to familiar territory can spark a return to winning ways, and seven victories from their last eight ECQ home matches (L1) suggests they can do just that. That rings especially true as they’re welcoming a Lithuania side who they are undefeated against in all four H2Hs this century, with a combined aggregate scoreline of 13-2 hinting at a comfortable evening for Hungary.
While Lithuania might still sit joint-bottom in Group I after the opening three ECQ rounds, they’d have been buoyed by picking up their first point this weekend against Bulgaria – not least because they achieved the 1-1 draw despite losing Justas Lasickas to a red card in the 17th minute. That followed a 0-0 friendly draw with Greece in March, meaning Lithuania could go a third game without defeat for the first time since November 2020 here.
Irrespective of that solid draw last time out, it can’t be ignored that Edgaras Jankauskas’ side are now without a win in 12 matches (D3, L9). They scored a combined three goals across that sequence, highlighting the role their feeble attack has played in the run and it’s now becoming increasingly unlikely that the Lithuanians will end their wait for a first-ever European Championship appearance.
Key battle: Goalkeeper DĂ©nes Dibusz has now kept 14 Hungary clean sheets in his career – that’s just five fewer than the total number of goals he has conceded representing his country. Lithuania boss Jankauskas turned to Gytis Paulauskas from the bench when captain Fedor ÄŚernych was forced off with a first-half injury against Bulgaria, notably though, the forward has more yellow cards for club and country (seven) than goals in 2023 (one).
Hot stat: Hungary have scored five of their last six goals before half-time.