This Tuesday signals the conclusion of the international break in Europe, and we will be examining two key encounters in League A1, providing insights and betting options for your consideration.
Let’s start by reviewing the latest outright markets. Spain currently leads the pack as the favourites at 33/10, with Portugal closely following at 4/1. France enters the equation at 9/2, while Germany is next best at 5/1. Italy has drifted slightly to 8/1, with Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Denmark all priced at 12/1. The rest of the field is listed at 50/1 or greater.
Click here for the latest Outright Odds as well as Group Betting
POLAND v CROATIA– Click here to bet
Poland’s frustration continues as they remain winless in their last two matches, suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Portugal in their most recent encounter. This loss leaves the Eagles 3rd in the standings with just 3 points from their opening three games. Desperate to turn their fortunes around, Poland will have a crucial opportunity to do so when they face Croatia in Warsaw. A win is essential if they are to stay in contention for a quarter-final spot and keep pace with the top two teams. Despite Saturday’s disappointing result, it was Poland’s first home defeat in their last 10 matches, during which they recorded 7 wins and 2 draws, averaging 1.9 goals per game with 19 goals scored from the hosts.
Croatia, currently 2nd in the group with 6 points, head into match day four full of confidence after a 2-1 victory over Scotland in Zagreb, marking their second consecutive UEFA Nations League win. This followed their 1-0 triumph against Poland on match day two. Now, the “Checkered Ones” travel to Warsaw, knowing that a positive result will strengthen their push for a top-two finish and a quarter-final berth, with only two group stage matches remaining after Tuesday’s clash. Although Croatia have won three of their last five away games, their recent form on the road has dipped, with two straight defeats and five goals conceded. However, their scoring record remains solid, having failed to score in just two of their last 10 away matches.
Head-to-Head
These sides have faced each other 6 times, with Croatia holding the advantage, having won 4, drawn 1, and lost just once. Their most recent encounter ended in a 1-0 victory for Croatia in Osijek, during match day two of the UEFA Nations League.
Betting
Poland 23/10
Draw 5/2
Croatia 5/4
Prediction
This looks like a tricky encounter, given the significance of the fixture. While I expect a winner to emerge from either side, I have my reservations about whether we’ll see many goals in this one. For that reason, a chance is taken on either side to claim victory, with 3 goals or fewer to feature.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance And Totals, Poland/Croatia And Under 3.5 at 8/11
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SCOTLAND v PORTUGAL– Click here to bet
Scotland have felt the strain of their demanding fixture schedule, leaving them at the bottom of the table with no points to show going into match day four. The Tartan Army has managed to score in every UEFA Nations League game, even netting the opener in their last two matches, however, their inability to defend has been their downfall, consistently conceding goals and landing them in trouble. Their most recent 2-1 defeat away to Croatia adding to their woes. Tuesday’s clash in Glasgow marks their return home in the tournament—a must-win fixture if they are to avoid relegation from League A. Unfortunately, optimism is low, as Scotland have failed to win any of their last five matches at Hampden Park, recording three defeats and two draws.
As one of the UEFA Nations League title favourites, Portugal heads into Tuesday’s clash in Glasgow brimming with confidence after another impressive performance over the weekend—a 3-1 victory away to Poland in Warsaw. This win brought their total to 9 points, keeping them at the top of the group with three consecutive victories. Roberto Martinez’s side knows that a win at Hampden Park will likely secure their place in the quarter-finals, depending on the outcome of the Poland vs Croatia match on the same day. Portugal has also been formidable on the road, recording 7 wins and 6 clean sheets in their last 10 away games. This Tuesday, they will undoubtedly look to extend this impressive run against what seems to be a very frustrated Scotland side at present.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have faced each other 16 times in total, with Portugal clearly dominating the statistics, boasting 9 wins, 3 draws, and 4 defeats. Their most recent encounter ended in a 2-1 victory for Portugal during the reverse fixture earlier this year in Round 2 of the UEFA Nations League in Lisbon.
Betting
Scotland 9/2
Draw 33/10
Portugal 6/10
Prediction
Even though they are on the road, this match seems poised for a straightforward victory for the visitors. The Portuguese have been outstanding, averaging 2.33 goals per game in the tournament thus far, and should demonstrate significantly greater quality than Scotland this coming Tuesday.
Suggested Bet: Full Time Result, Portugal at 6/10
Click here for betting on all of this week’s matches
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
