EURO QUALIFIERS: The Ultra previews NORWAY v SCOTLAND and BELGIUM v AUSTRIA both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
NORWAY V SCOTLAND
5pm The Euro 2024 qualifiers continue on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE on Saturday. We have two very competitive fixtures to look at, and we start the day in Group A as Norway host Scotland. Everyone would have expected Spain to top this Group, and in fairness they more than likely still will, but they already suffered a loss when losing 2-0 to Scotland. That was an incredible boost for Scotland, and they really couldn’t have started qualifying better. It was always going to be a huge battle with Norway for second place in this Group – it’s Norway that are the ones under immense pressure as they aren’t assured of a playoff spot from the Nations League results while Scotland are. Scotland started off with two home wins, and as always Hampden Park was rocking – they face a tougher challenge in their away games, but even a draw here would be a cracking result considering their win over Spain. I would expect them to play like that, and it will be up to Norway to make the running here. Norway have a strong squad on paper, but their results have been lacklustre and they keep leaking goals.
Despite not topping their Nations League Group and failing to make it to the World Cup, they come into this game as favourites with home advantage. They are trading 2.08 at the time of writing with Scotland 4.0 and the draw is 3.65. I have to say I was very surprised to see them trading that short when I clicked into the market – especially after their 1-1 draw with Georgia. All the focus will be on Haaland here as he returns to the squad, but he can’t win this game on his own and he’s also not going to get the service he does from Manchester City. With Scotland going to have quite negative tactics here with a draw a good result, Under 2.5 goals does look like a nice position at 1.74. I couldn’t put anyone off the Unders bet here, but I feel there’s more value on offer in the Norway lay at 2.08. Scotland have been playing well enough to get a result here, and Norway have hardly been firing lately either. I expect a closer game than the odds suggest.
The Ultra Says:
Three points lay (liability) Norway to beat Scotland at 2.08 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/NorSco
BELGIUM V AUSTRIA
7.45pm We move to Group F to finish the day as Belgium host Austria in what should be a cracker. Everyone will be expecting Belgium to top this Group, but Austria will provide some decent competition. It’s hard to see past Belgium topping the Group to be honest but Austria have got off to a 100% start with two wins from two games. We’ve probably yet to hit any drama in this Group with results going as expected. Belgium beat Sweden, but that would have been expected and you’d expect the results between Sweden and Austria to decide who finishes second behind Belgium. Obviously any result against Belgium for either side would be a brilliant bonus. Both sides are under added pressure in qualifying because they haven’t got a playoff spot from the Nations League. Sweden actually had a very poor Nations League getting relegated from a B Group – it’s hard to believe they are going to be at C Level next time around, but they have been in decline for a few years now. Austria also got relegated but they were in an A Group with France, Denmark and Croatia. That was always going to be a tough ask, and the level that Austria are at will likely see them bounce up and down from an A Group to a B Group.
They face another tough task here away to Belgium, and Belgium come into the game as the odds on favourites. The home win is trading 1.69 at the time of writing with Austria 5.8 and the draw is 4.2. Belgium had a very disappointing World Cup, embarrassingly crashing out at the Group stage after a loss to Morocco and a draw with Croatia. You can say that they were very unlucky against Croatia because they finished the game with an xG of 3.22 in a 0-0 draw, but it was just another example of them fluffing their lines at a major tournament. In qualifying however, Belgium are always different gravy. They perform at their best when pressure is low, and in general they’re playing sides at a level below them. Austria are a good side, but they aren’t at the level of Belgium and their last Nations League highlighted that too getting relegated from an A Group. I’m not going to go crazy with the stakes, but I’m happy to take the 1.69 on Belgium.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Belgium to beat Austria at 1.69 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/BelAus
