Norway VS Bulgaria Match Prediction
2018-10-16
18:45:00
Norway
VS
Bulgaria
Our Prediction Tip
Norway will win this match.
2018-10-1618:45:00 Norway will win this match.
Radoslav Vasilev's goal proved the difference when these two teams last met, sealing a 1-0 win in Sofia, and also ended a four-match winless run in this fixture for the Bulgarians. They had previously lost their las three against Norway, despite losing just one of the previous 11. In total, Bulgaria have won seven times, with four draws and four Norway wins. Prior to the meeting in Sofia last month, they last met during Euro 2016 qualifying – Norway winning 2-1 at home before Vegard Forren scored the only of the game in Sofia.
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Bulgaria might have won the reverse fixture against Norway but they face a tough task now heading to Oslo, where the hosts have a great record.
Unbeaten in the last two years at home, and with six home wins in a row, Norway’s resurgence has been built around good home form and Bulgaria could be heading for a first defeat in five games.
Stefan Johansen, Josh King and Mohamed Elyounoussi offer goals, assists and all-round attacking quality and Norway know a win will put them level with Bulgaria on nine points.
They will need to be wary of the counter-attack, however – with Strahil Popov setting up both goals in Bulgaria’s defeat of Cyprus last time out.
Should they shut Bulgaria’s wide men down, however – and with a good defensive record in recent home games too (five clean sheets in six games) they can do exactly that, Norway should go on to win.
A draw would be no good in the long term, leaving Bulgaria top and well poised to finish first in Group C3, so Norway need to win – but if King, Johansen, Elyounoussi and co fire, win is exactly what they should do.
Norway are odds-on favourites to maintain their good home form and beat Bulgaria, with Bet365 and Betway offering 8/13 on a home win.
They have a good defensive record in this home winning streak too, and can be backed to win to nil at 5/4 with Bet365 and Betway. You can also bet against both teams to score at 8/15 with Betfair.
Bulgaria’s good form suggests there will be little in it, however, and under 2.5 goals will return 8/15 with Bet365, 10Bet and 888sport.
Stefan Johansen is Norway’s top scorer in the UEFA Nations League after his double against Slovenia, but Josh King is due another at international level and is 13/8 to score at any time with Betfair, Paddy Power and Betway.
Norway's home record speaks for itself. Bulgaria have made a winning start to the UEFA Nations League but the hosts can shut them down in their Oslo fortress.
Martin Odegaard has been recalled to the senior squad after dropping down to the under-21s last time out. He has not featured often for the national team, however – the former wonderkid winning just four caps in three years. Norway have been hit by a number of injuries, with Tore Reginiussen, Sten Grytebust, Birger Meling and Kristoffer Ajer all unavailable. Havard Nodtveit is back from suspension in defence, however, and will replace Evan Hovland at the back.
Joshua King – Has an international goalscoring record of one goal every three games – which means he is due another imminently.
Stefan Johansen – Norway’s top goalscorer so far in the UEFA Nations League, having scored twice in the win against Cyprus.
Ole Selnaes – The match winner last time out, scoring his second goal in 20 international appearances in midfield.
Defeat in the reverse fixture to Bulgaria is Norway’s only loss in their last seven matches. They have won the other six in that time, including the 1-0 win – thanks to Ole Selnaes’ goal – that helped them get back to winning ways against Slovenia. Their other win in the UEFA Nations League so far was against Cyprus, when Stefan Johansen scored both goals in a 2-0 victory.
Vasil Bozhikov is fit again but only featured as a substitute last time out, with Strahil Popov starting at right-back. Slavia Sofia’s 42-year-old Georgi Petkov is in the squad, nine years on from his last cap, but Plamen Iliev remains in goal and should retain the number-one jersey against Norway.
Bozhidar Kraev – The 21-year-old Midtjylland midfielder was Bulgaria’s match winner against Slovenia, with both goals in the 2-1 win.
Ivelin Popov – The Bulgarian captain leads the attack and is the top scorer in the current team with 14 from 77 appearances.
Strahil Popov – Assisted both goals in the win against Cyprus having retained his starting place at right-back.
Bulgaria have now won five of their last six matches, including the last four in a row. In the UEFA Nations League they started with a 2-1 win against Slovenia – Bozhidar Kraev scoring his first two international goals - before Radoslav Vasilev’s winner against Norway. Last time out, they fell behind against Cyprus but hit back in the second-half to record another 2-1 win, this time with wingers Kiril Despodov and Todor Nedelev on the scoresheet.
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