Macedonia VS Belarus Match Prediction

This will be just the third match between the two teams, having been drawn in the same qualification group for Euro 2016. Belarus won 2-1 in Macedonia, before neither side managed a goal in the reverse fixture in Belarus.

Macedonia vs Belarus Prediction

Belarus have the edge in recent fixtures against Macedonia, and have showed good form in their recent friendlies, even if they are still without a win in World Cup qualifying. Macedonia may have home advantage, but Belarus could snatch a narrow victory.

Correct Score Prediction: Macedonia 0-1 Belarus

Macedonia vs Belarus Betting Tips and Odds

Bookmakers have had difficulty splitting Belarus and Macedonia. Bet365 have Belarus at 7/4 and Macedonia at 17/10, while betfair are offering 8/5 on a home win and 13/8 for a Belarus victory. The draw can be backed at 2/1 with Bet365 and betfair.

Both teams to score has been set at 11/10 for yes and 4/6 for no (Betfair).

Reason: There's not a lot separating the two teams, but Belarus are slight favourites having not lost to Macedonia in their two previous meetings. While Belarus are without a win in their World Cup qualification group, they have beaten Greece in a friendly and held France to a goalless draw.

Team News

Midfielder Ezgjan Alioski is likely to return to the starting line-up for the game against Belarus, having been suspended as Macedonia beat Liechtenstein. Goalkeeper Filip Gachevski, defender Kristijan Toshevski and 16-year-old midfielder Darko Churlinov could all make their debuts.

Key Man

Captain Goran Pandev may be Macedonia's big-name star but it was Palermo striker Ilija Nestorovski in the goals in Liechtenstein. Nestorovski scored two and missed a stoppage-time penalty which would have sealed his hat-trick.

Team Form

Macedonia ended a five-match losing streak on Friday, beating Liechtenstein 3-0 in Vaduz - only their third international win in all competitions since the end of 2014. A heavy defeat in Spain in November aside, however, their form prior to that game had been a story of narrow defeats and conceding late goals, including Italy's 3-2 stoppage-time comeback win in October.

Expected Line-up: 4-4-2

Team News

Veteran former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb misses out through injury, while experienced striker Sergei Kornilenko did not even make the original squad as he too is on the sidelines. Mikalay Signevich played up front against Sweden, but BATE Borisov striker Vitali Rodionov is back in contention for the trip to Macedonia.

Key Man

With Alexander Hleb out, Belarus need somebody to step up in midfield and that could mean a recall for Sergey Kislyak. The 29-year-old has nine goals for his country in 62 caps.

Team Form

A heavy 4-0 defeat in Sweden on Saturday leaves Belarus without a win so far in World Cup qualifying, though they did win their most recent friendly. Their 1-0 victory in Greece in November is Belarus' only win in their last five matches.

Expected Line-up: 4-2-3-1

Belarus have a good recent record in international friendlies, having beaten the Republic of Ireland, Norway and Greece in their last three non-competitive fixtures. Macedonia returned to winning ways at the weekend, but Belarus - even without two of their most experienced players - could still nick a narrow win.

Macedonia beat Liechtenstein last time out, but have not won back-to-back internationals since beating Bulgaria and Wales in autumn 2013.