Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland prediction and betting tips on September 8, 2024
Game Prediction
In the second round of the Nations League on September 8, 2024, Bulgaria will take on Northern Ireland. Both teams achieved respectable results in the previous round and aim to delight their fans once again.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland: Key Stats and Trends
- Bulgaria has drawn six of their last ten matches.
- Northern Ireland has won three out of five matches in 2024, with only one defeat.
- Bulgaria is unbeaten in their last six games.
- Bulgaria has played five consecutive home games without a win.
- Northern Ireland has scored at least once in each of their last five matches.
- Bulgaria wins the first half in 0% of matches, while Northern Ireland wins in 33% of matches.
Our Prediction for Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland
The "Lions" have long since stopped living up to their mighty nickname. It’s understandable given the current state of the squad, with few standout stars, and most players still playing in Bulgaria—often not even for the local powerhouse, Ludogorets. The modest results shouldn't be surprising, but finishing last in their group with just four points, even behind Lithuania, was a clear disappointment. Northern Ireland didn’t fare much better, as they picked up six of their nine points against San Marino, finishing ahead of only them, while Kazakhstan and Finland both earned eighteen points—double their tally.
Despite this, both coaches retained their jobs. Iliev, however, only took over less than a year ago with a clear focus on the current cycle. His lineup has undergone some tweaks, primarily due to injuries—Delev, Kovachev, and Nedyalkov are all unavailable. For O'Neill, the squad is familiar with no new faces, although notable absences include Johnny Evans, who has retired, and Corry Evans, who failed to find a club over the summer.
Bulgaria started against Belarus on what was essentially neutral ground. Even after going down to ten men for the last twenty minutes, they held on for a 0-0 draw. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, faced Luxembourg and stunned them with two quick goals by the 16th minute, sealing a 2-0 victory.
Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland: Probable Lineups
Bulgaria (probable lineup): Mitov – Nürnberger, Petkov, Atanasov, Popov – Gruev, Antov, Minchev, Kirilov, Despodov – Kolev
Northern Ireland (probable lineup): Peacock-Farrell – Brown, McNair, Ballard – Hume, Saville, S. Charles, Bradley – Price, Marshall, D. Charles
Head to Head matches: Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland
In this century, the teams have met five times, with the "Lions" winning four and drawing once.
Free prediction today for the match: Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland
The hosts are given a slight advantage, but the visitors have been in good form this year. We’re backing an away win with a "0" handicap (odds – 2.06).