Moldova vs Republic of Ireland Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview
Republic of Ireland travel to face Moldova in World Cup qualifying Group D this Sunday. Read the match predictions to find out why Ireland are the betting tip to get three points in Chișinău.
Moldova vs Republic of Ireland Preview
Moldova are currently propping up the table after a 0-3 defeat to Serbia leaves them win 0 points from the opening two matches. Republic of Ireland had to grind out a 1-0 win over Georgia and are level on points with the leaders but fourth on goal difference.
Head coach Igor Dobrovolski doesn’t have a large pool to select from and has little option to set up for damage limitation. That will mean Alexandru Gațcan and Andrei Cojocari operating in a double pivot as part of a 5 man midfield to try and screen the defence. Igor Bugaiov should continue up front with Eugen Sidorenco on the bench.
Republic of Ireland had to keep plugging away against Georgia and their persistence paid off. It could be a similar exercise here with the hosts likely to play with men behind the ball. Martin O’Neill was given a boost when James McCarthy returned to the midfiel and he’s likely to keep Glenn Whelan on the bench once more. Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy were preferred to John O’Shea and Richard Keogh on Thursday night and could retain their starting berths in this one.
Team Predictions Moldova vs Republic of Ireland
Moldova 4-2-3-1 formation: Cebanu; Epureanu, Racu, Bolohan, Carp; Cojocari, Gaţcan; Cebotaru, Andronic, Dedov; Bugaiov
Republic of Ireland 4-3-3 formation: Randoph; Ward, Clark, Duffy, Coleman; Brady, McCarthy, Hendrick; McClean, Long, Walters
Moldova vs Republic of Ireland Betting Tips
- Moldova have won 1 drawn 1 and lost 8 of their last 10 matches
- Ireland have won 3 drawn 4 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Moldova have scored an average of 0.4 goals and conceded an average of 1.8 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Croatia have scored an average of 1.4 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Moldova’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Ireland’s previous 10 matches
(Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Moldova vs Republic of Ireland Prediction
Moldova kept clean sheets in a draw away to Malta and victory in Andorra, before keeping the scoreline respectable when losing by a single goal to Croatia and Switzerland respectively. It’s all gone pear-shaped in this qualifying section though, with a 4-0 drubbing away to Wales followed by Thursday’s home defeat to Serbia.
Republic of Ireland pulled off a bit of a shock when beating Italy 0-1 at Euro 2016 but were knocked out after a 2-1 defeat to France. They’ve since beaten Oman 4-0 in a friendly and secured a hard-earned 2-2 draw with Serbia, prior to the narrow victory over Georgia.
The hosts will set up to stifle Ireland and try to nick a goal on the break. I’m not convinced that they have the firepower to give Randoph too much trouble and it’s his opposite number Cebanu who is most likely to have a busy night.
Ireland had to bide their time against Georgia and that might be the case here but I can see them getting a better result, given the form of the home side. I don’t see the Boys in Green running away with it but they should record a comfortable victory nonetheless.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
Republic of Ireland to win at 4/7 with 888Sport
Over/Under Prediction
Under 2.5 goals at 27/40 with bet365
Correct Score Prediction
Republic of Ireland to win 2-0 at 5/1 with Ladbrokes
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