Prediction: Bulgaria to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/1
Bulgaria and the Republic of Ireland will face each other in the UEFA Nations League this week. The first leg of the Group B/Group C playoff tie between Ilian Iliev’s side and Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team will be held at Stadion Hristo Botev and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Thursday.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria are a modest footballing nation who are not expected to do much of note in international football. They are in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League C at the moment, and not many would expect them to get promoted to League A eventually.
However, Ilian Iliev’s side have a chance of clinching promotion to UEFA Nations League B. Bulgaria finished second in Group 3 with nine points from six matches, just two points behind eventual winners Northern Ireland.
Bulgaria will now head into the promotion playoffs and will fancy their chances of winning against a hapless Republic of Ireland side, especially if they win the first leg at home.
Team News:
Bulgaria are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against the Republic of Ireland. Mitov will be in goal for the home team. Popov, S Petrov, A Petkov and Nurnberger will be the four defenders. Panayotov, Kraev and Milanov will be the three midfielders. M Petkov, Kolev and Kirilov will be the three forwards.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland have a very good squad, with a number of their players featuring in the top divisions in Europe, including the Premier League. However, things have been dire for them in the UEFA Nations League.
The Boys in Green finished third in Group 2 with just six points from matches. England and Greece ended up first and second respectively in the group with 15 points each.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said ahead of the tie against Bulgaria: “My thoughts are that we need to play good opponents day in and day out to develop as a team.
“That’s why League B is important for us. There are differing views on it and I respect that, but I think it’s really important to stay in League B and play higher-ranked opponents.”
“The strength of the Bulgaria team is their collective,” Hallgrimsson added. “They are an honest team, tactically solid and difficult to break down.
“If you look at the recent results, since Ilian Iliev took over, 12 games and one loss, and that was a big defeat in Northern Ireland but that was an outlier.
“They conceded five goals but they were without five players, missed a penalty and hit the crossbar. They have had really good results in Plovdiv and I understand why they wanted to play here.”
Team News:
Kelleher will be in goal for the Republic of Ireland. Doherty, Collins, O’Shea and Brady will be the four defenders. Moran, Cullen, Knight and Johnston will be the four midfielders. Parrott and Ferguson will be the two centre-forwards.
Key Factors to Consider
- Bulgaria have won 2 of their last 6 UEFA Nations League games.
- The Republic of Ireland have won 2 of their last 6 UEFA Nations League games.
- Bulgaria have scored 3 goals and conceded 6 goals in the UEFA Nations League so far.
- The Republic of Ireland have scored 3 goals and conceded 12 goals in the UEFA Nations League so far.
- Bulgaria have taken 44 shots, while the Republic of Ireland have had 41 goals.
Conclusion
While the Republic of Ireland do have a better team on paper, Bulgaria have done better in the UEFA Nations League and should register a win in the first leg.
Prediction: Bulgaria to win 2-0
Best Odds: 11/1
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