Cyprus VS Norway Match Prediction
2018-11-19
19:45:00
Cyprus
VS
Norway
Our Prediction Tip
Norway will win this match.
2018-11-1919:45:00 Norway will win this match.
Norway’s 2-0 win in September made it ten from ten for the Norwegians in this fixture, with Cyprus only managing four goals in that time too. Stefan Johansen scored both of Norway’s goals in the win in Oslo, while they also won by the same score when they last met in 2013 too – Tarik Elyounoussi and Josh King netting on that occasion.
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Norway have a dominant record in this fixture and will expect to make it 11 wins from 11 against Cyprus.
Stefan Johansen scored both goals last time and, while Josh King is undoubtedly a big miss, the likes of the captain and Ola Kamara, and Tarik Elyounoussi – who scored when these teams met in 2013 – all have goals in them.
At the other end, Norway did not concede any goals in their three home games in the UEFA Nations League and a clean sheet away from home will give them a great chance of getting the win they need.
They should go into this game full of confidence too given their vastly improved form in 2018. Twelve months ago, Norway were losing to Macedonia and Slovakia in friendly but their record since has been vastly improved.
Prior to travelling to Ljubljana for Friday’s match with Slovenia, only Bulgaria had beaten Norway in 2018 – Norway winning the other seven of their eight games and keeping clean sheets in five of those victories.
If Cyprus can not break Norway’s stubborn defence down, the visitors can claim all three points to round off their UEFA Nations League campaign.
Norway are favourites to beat Cyprus but you can still back them at a best price of 5/6 with Bet365 and Betway.
They won to nil when they beat Cyprus in September and they have kept clean sheets in five of their first seven wins in 2018 too, and a Norway win to nil returns 15/8 with Bet365 and Betway.
You can also bet against both teams to score at 5/6 with Paddy Power, Betfair and Betway and back a Norway clean sheet at 11/8 with Betfair.
The games in this group have generally been tight, meanwhile, and under 2.5 goals returns a best price of 3/4 with Betway.
Norway have won ten from ten against Cyprus so far and they can round off their UEFA Nations League with a win – with their strong defensive record likely to be a key factor.
Jason Demtriou’s suspension following his red card against Slovenia means he will have to wait for his 50th Cypriot cap while goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides and strikers Demtris Christofi and Nestoras Mitidis are all also missing to make for a young Cypriot squad. Fotios Papoulis, who scored his first Cypriot goal last month after switching nationalities from Greek, is also absent. Grigoris Kastanos will return from suspension in midfield, however.
Grigoris Kastanos – The Juventus midfielder was sent off against Slovenia but he will return from his ban to face Norway, having scored his first goal against Bulgaria last month
Pieros Sotiriou – The Copenhagen striker is the leading scorer in the current Cyprus squad, including netting the equaliser in the home win against Slovenia.
Constantinos Panagi – Norway will expect to win, but if Panagi and his defence can keep things tight the nerves might kick in for the visitors.
Prior to the match against Bulgaria on Friday, Cyprus had won just one of their last 11 matches – a 2-1 win at home to Slovenia in September when Pieros Sotiriou equalised and a late own goal earned victory. Cyprus took the lead away to Bulgaria in their next match, through Grigoris Kastanos, but Bulgaria hit back to win 2-1. That was followed by a feisty game in Slovenia, in which Fotios Papoulis gave Cyprus the lead before Kastanos was sent off and Slovenia equalised. Both sides had a player sent off in stoppage time – Jason Demetriou for Cyprus – as the game finished 1-1.
Striker Josh King and defender Kristoffer Ajer both withdrew from the Norway squad due to injury prior to the trip to Slovenia, while Mats Moller Daehli and Vegard Forren did not make selection. Ola Kamara and Alexander Sorloth are the options to partner Tarik Elyounoussi up front.
Mohamed Elyounoussi – His goal against Bulgaria last month – the only one of the game – could yet prove crucial, while he also provides plenty of chances from the wing.
Stefan Johansen – Scored both goals as Norway beat Cyprus in the reverse fixture, setting the tone for their successful start to the campaign.
Tarik Elyounoussi – Scored when Norway beat Cyprus back in 2013 and will need to lead the line in the absence of regular strike partner Josh King.
Prior to facing Slovenia, Norway boasted a good record in 2018 of seven wins and just one defeat – away to Bulgaria in September. Since losing to Bulgaria, Ole Selnaes scored in the home win against Slovenia and Mohamed Elyounoussi scored the winner against Bulgaria. Norway had therefore won all three UEFA Nations League home games to nil but finish with this away double header – this match coming hot on the heels of Friday’s trip to Ljubljana to face Slovenia.
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