EURO QUALIFIERS: The Ultra previews Friday’s games between CYPRUS v SCOTLAND and SLOVAKIA v PORTUGAL both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
CYPRUS V SCOTLAND
7.45pm The 2024 Euro Qualifiers continue on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE on Friday! We kick off the action in Group A where Scotland are currently in dreamland! They travel to take on Cyprus, and to tell the truth this is a game that they should win even away from home. So far qualifying couldn’t have gone any better for Scotland – they have won four from four, including beating the Group favourites Spain. Because of the Nations League Finals, Spain have only played twice compared to Scotland’s four but Scotland are currently miles clear with 12 points; Georgia and Norway are next with four points while Spain have three. You’d have to expect Spain to rack up the wins as they play more games, and probably the more important fact that is that Norway have only managed four points after four games. Scotland would have been delighted with a draw away to Norway if you offered it to them before kick off, but an incredible final three minutes plus added time saw Scotland come from 1-0 down to win 2-1 away from home and really put themselves in pole position.
Cyprus have yet to win a game in this Group, and Scotland have been playing levels above them recently. Scotland come into the game as the red-hot favourites, currently trading 1.35 at the time of writing. The sides have met three times going back to 2019, and Scotland have come out on top three times too. Probably a sign of how improved Scotland have been in recent years because they had to grind out results in 2019, but they blew Cyprus away in March with a 3-0 win with home advantage. Once again though, Scotland had to wait until late in the game to really put the hammer down with goals. I expect Scotland to run out winners, but I don’t see them scoring many goals. I feel Cyprus will aim to keep this game as tight as possible, and they can keep the score line respectable too. Under 2.5 goals is worth a small bet at 2.06 which I was surprised to see trading odds against. I know Scotland have been superb recently, but they can grind out a win here rather than bang in goals for fun.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.06 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/CypSco
SLOVAKIA V PORTUGAL
7.45pm With Scotland being the only Home Nation in action on Friday, Slovakia v Portugal looks the next best game to focus on. It’s a top of the table clash in Group J. Portugal have been faultless in the Group so far with four wins from four games while Slovakia are also unbeaten after four games, but they were held to a draw at home against Luxembourg. That was a surprising result – Portugal beat Luxembourg 6-0 away from home! I don’t think many football fans will see anything bar Portugal topping this Group, but this fixture will decide who finishes top. Portugal come into the game as the odds on favourites at 1.47 with Slovakia at 8.8 and the draw is 4.8. This is the first time the sides are meeting, and while Slovakia come into the game on a seven game unbeaten run, they do lack a lot of firepower up front. That explains the 0-0 with Luxembourg, and the also made hard work of beating Iceland and Liechtenstein away from home. They only beat those sides by one goal – in fairness Portugal had to wait until the 89th minute for a Ronaldo winner away to Iceland too!
Although it’s hard to see past a win for Portugal here, you can definitely see this being a very cagey game. I can’t see Slovakia playing an open game, and they will know their best chance of a result is to be as negative as possible. In an open game, they will just get out-gunned with their strike force. As we know Portugal are exceptionally hard to beat at this level – only beaten once in 19 games. All eyes will be on Ronaldo as he returns to the European spotlight from Saudi Arabia. I feel the bet that stands out here is Under 2.5 goals at 1.96 – I can understand why we have a pretty even market here, but I feel Unders is the value play. Portugal are likely to start the game in a cagey fashion away from home and I wouldn’t be surprised to see 0-0 at half-time from a trading point of view. From an outright point of view though the 1.96 looks the best bet of the evening in what should be a very tight and cagey affair.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.96 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/SloPor
