Bulgaria VS Netherlands Match Prediction

Bulgaria and the Netherlands have played each other ten times in total, with both teams winning four apiece. In more recent fixtures, they are also evenly matched – Bulgaria winning 2-1 in a friendly in 2012, while the Dutch won one and drew one during qualifying for Euro 2008.

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Bulgaria vs Netherlands Prediction

The Netherlands have been hit-and-miss so far in qualifying – unusually for them – but this is a big chance to get back on track. Bulgaria were heavily beaten by both France and Sweden, and the Dutch need to replicate that to stay on course to qualify for the World Cup.

Correct Score Prediction: Bulgaria 1-3 Netherlands

Bulgaria vs Netherlands Betting Tips and Odds

Despite their home advantage, Bulgaria are as high as 6/1 to win with Bet365 and the draw is at 16/5 with Betfair. The Netherlands need to win, and the bookies are tipping them to do just that, with a best price of 11/20 available through Betfair.

Both teams to score has been set at evens for yes and 3/4 for no (Bet365).

Reason: The Dutch may have suffered with their form of late, but they are a bigger and better team than Bulgaria, meaning this represents a big chance to get back on track in their qualification campaign.

Team News

Bulgaria have had a number of players drop out of Petar Hubchev’s squad for the visit of the Netherlands, with goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov, captain Sveotslav Dyakov and midfielder Georgi Milanov all among the injured players. Defender Aleksandar Aleksandrov is suspended.

Key Man

Ivelin Popov has scored in both of Bulgaria’s victories in Group A so far, and the CSKA Moscow man will need to be in clinical form if Bulgaria hope to snatch an unlikely win.

Team Form

Bulgaria needed a stoppage-time winner to win their first qualifying game 4-3 at home to Luxembourg, but back-to-back defeats to France and Sweden – 4-1 and 3-0 respectively - followed. Having conceded ten goals in their first three games, Bulgaria shut Belarus out to win their most recent match in Sofia 1-0, however.

Expected Line-up: 4-4-1-1

Team News

Striker Luuk de Jong is one of five players to have dropped out of Danny Blind’s initial squad, alongside Leroy Fer, Davy Propper, Bart Ramselaar and Marten de Roon. Virgil van Dijk is also out injured, while Ibrahim Afellay’s return with Stoke has not been enough to earn the ex-Barcelona man a place in the squad. Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and defender Jeffrey Bruma are also out.

Key Man

Winger Quincy Promes has forced his way into Danny Blind’s reckoning, on the opposite flank to veteran Arjen Robben. Promes scored twice in the defeat of Belarus, and the Spartak Moscow player has seven goals and six assists to his name in the Russian Premier League this season.

Team Form

The Dutch have just two wins from their four qualifiers so far, drawing their opening game in Sweden before a home win against Belarus was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to France. A friendly draw with neighbours Belgium followed, before the Netherlands got their qualifying campaign back on track with a 3-1 in Luxembourg last time out. The Dutch defence has been beaten at least once in each of their last six matches.

Expected Line-up: 4-3-3

A draw with Sweden and defeat to France mean the Netherlands have it all to do to avoid missing their second consecutive major tournament. Nevertheless, with the best attacking record in Group A so far, they travel to Bulgaria - who have the worst defensive record - well-equipped to get their campaign back on track.

Despite sitting second in Group A, the Netherlands\' eight goals in four games makes them the group\'s top scorers. Bulgaria have conceded more goals (10) than anybody else in Group A.