Bulgaria vs Norway Prediction and Preview – 03/09/15
Euro 2016 Qualification preview – Bulgaria vs Norway prediction
The European qualifier between the teams of Bulgaria and Norway in Group H is hugely important for both sides. Victory for Bulgaria would back the hopes of the team to reach the play-offs. Norway currently holds the third place in the group with a total of 10 points after six games. Bulgaria is fourth with two points less.
Both teams have serious problems with injured players. Bulgaria’s goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov has been ruled out of the game. The Ludogorets Razgrad player suffered a knee injury in training on Monday and left the team. Beroe Stara Zagora’s Blagoy Makendzhiev has been called up as his replacement. The manager Ivaylo Petev has problems with Nikolay Mihaylov (virus) and striker Valeri Bozhinov (ankle). The will probably miss the game.
Per-Mathias Høgmo has been forced to make four changes to his Norway squad for qualifiers against Bulgaria. Rosenborg midfielders Pål André Helland and Ole Selnæs have withdrawn with hip injuries, while forwards Joshua King (thigh) and Adama Diomande (head) also miss out. Brothers Valon Berisha (Salzburg) and Veton Berisha (Greuther Fürth) have been drafted in along with Håvard Nielsen (Salzburg) and Ruben Yttergård Jenssen (Kaiserslautern).
Possible Line-ups
Bulgaria: 4-4-1-1 formation: Mitrev; Bandalovski, Aleksandrov, Bodurov, Y.Minev; Manolev, Chochev, G.Milanov, Dyakov; Popov, Mitsanski.
Norway: 4-4-2 formation: Niland; Hogli, Hovland, Forren, Elabdellaoui; Skjelbred, Nordtveit, Johansen, Odegaard; Soderlund, Veton Berisha
- Bulgaria have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Norway have won 3, drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Bulgaria have scored an average of 1 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Norway have scored an average of 0.7 goals and conceded an average of 1 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Bulgaria’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Norway’s previous 10 matches
Martin Ødegaard came on as a substitute for Norway in the first game against Bulgaria, aged 15 years and 300 days, to become the youngest player to feature in a UEFA European Championship game. It is expected Ødegaard to take part against Bulgarian again. Substitute Håvard Nielsen scored the winner as Norway defeated Bulgaria 2-1 in Oslo in their first Group H meeting on 13 October 2014.
Bulgaria defender Veselin Minev and midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov are both a yellow card away from a suspension while Norway’s Håvard Nordtveit and Jone Samuelsen are both a booking away from a one-game ban.
Bulgaria ended a four-game win-less run in Group H with a 1:0 success in Malta last time out and they are unbeaten in two competitive outings since Ivaylo Petev took charge. Bulgaria have not won in four competitive home fixtures since a 6:0 success against Malta in FIFA World Cup qualifying in March 2013.
Bulgaria’s record in 13 internationals against Norway is 6 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses. Norway have won both of the nations’ 21st century meetings 2-1.
We say: Draw at 23/10 with Bet365
What are your predctions?