North Macedonia and Scotland are both looking to end miserable runs of form when the pair collide for the first time in over a decade on matchday three of the UEFA Nations League (UNL).
Match News and Current Form
When North Macedonia thrashed Liechtenstein last September, they were top of a World Cup qualifying group that contained Belgium, but a harrowing ten-game winless run since (D5, L5) has proven a harsh reality check. They’ve scored just two goals in that time, neither of which have come in their six games under Goce Sedloski (D2, L4), who has overseen defeats in their last three matches by a 9-0 aggregate scoreline. The most recent two of those came in this UNL campaign to leave the Lynxes bottom of Group B1 and on course for an immediate return to the third tier, though a return home could offer hope as their only loss on their own turf since June 2023 came against Switzerland on matchday one (W5, D6).
Sébastien Pocognoli is the first Scotland manager since George Burley in 2008 to fail to win either of his first two games in charge, and his first defeat came in emphatic fashion as Switzerland fired three past his ten-man outfit. The Tartan Army failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in a UNL fixture, and points to wider attacking issues for a side who’ve failed to score in any of their last four matches, although three of those came against sides ranked inside the world’s top 15 by FIFA. Scotland must fancy their chances of ending a three-game goal drought in the UNL given that they’ve lost just one of their last six matches on opposition turf (W3, D2).
Head-to-Head History
All four prior H2Hs took place in World Cup qualifying, with Scotland unbeaten in the last three meetings (W2, D1), the last of which took place on this ground in September 2013.
Hot Stats and Streaks
North Macedonia have taken under 3.5 corners in seven of their last nine competitive fixtures.
Five of North Macedonia’s last six home wins were accompanied by a clean sheet.
Four of Scotland’s last seven UNL group games produced exactly three goals.
Scotland have received exactly one yellow card in five of their last six competitive matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Eljif Elmas epitomises his country’s scoring problems having gone 18 caps without a goal for North Macedonia, and a return of eight wins from his ten international scoring appearances (D1, L1) means they’ll be desperate for him to end that drought. Captain Andrew Robertson is set to become just the second Scotland player to ever reach 100 caps here, but appears more likely to be booked than involved in a goal having picked up three yellow cards in four away UNL League B group stage appearances.
The hosts look to have no fresh concerns, while Scotland’s Jack Hendry is suspended.
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Betting Analysis
These sides’ scoring woes point to under 2.5 goals being an obvious selection.
Author: Ryan Fisher
