Russia vs Sweden Prediction and Preview – 05/09/15
Euro 2016 Qualification preview – Russia vs Sweden prediction
Two sides hoping to qualify from Group G go head-to-head in a Euro 2016 qualifier as Russia host Sweden on Saturday. The visitors are currently second in the group, while Russia are third, just four points behind this weekend’s opponents.
Russia team will be lead by its new manager Leonid Slutsky who replaced Italian Fabio Capelo last month. Capello was sacked in July, while Slutsky has only been appointed until the end of the qualifying campaign.
Victory for Sweden will put them seven points clear of the third-placed side in Group G Erik Hamren’s side remain unbeaten after the first six fixtures of the qualifying campaign, but have been held to draws in three matches, including their first outing against Russia.
Possible Line-ups
Russia: 4-4-2 formation: Akinfeev; Ignashevich, Berezutski, Zhirkov, Berezutski; Denisov, Shirokov, Shatov, Cheryshev; Kokorin, Smolov
Sweden: 4-4-2 formation: Isaksson; Bengtsson, Granqvist, Wendy, Antonsson; Larsson, Ekdal, Wernbloom, Durmaz; Ibrahimovic, Toivonen
- Russia have won 4, drawn 4 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Sweden have won 5, drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Russia have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Sweden have scored an average of 1.4 goals and conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Russia’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 2 of Sweden’s previous 10 matches
The first encounter between both sides in the qualifying campaign last October finished with a draw 1:1. The game on Saturday will be seventh meeting between the two countries. In the six previous matches, both sides have won twice, while sharing two draws. Russia’s last win over Sweden was during the group stage of Euro 2008, while Sweden have not beaten this weekend’s opponents since the group stage of the 1994 World Cup, securing a 3-1 win.
Sweden have included just one uncapped player in their squad for their upcoming matches against Russia and Austria. Midfielder Abdul Khalili of Turkish side Mersin Idmanyurdu was named in the squad for the first time.
Midfielder Kim Kallstrom will be missing for Sweden, having picked up three yellow cards so far, while Martin Olsson is a doubt through injury.
We say: Both teams to score at 11/10 with Bet365
What are your predictions?