NATIONS LEAGUE: The Ultra previews Tuesday’s Nations League games between PORTUGAL v SPAIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v ARMENIA and UKRAINE v SCOTLAND all with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
PORTUGAL V SPAIN
7.45pm We have a massive night of Nations League action on Tuesday as we have the final round of fixtures on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. We have four massive games and all will decided who tops the Group or relegation. We start the evening with the most glamorous fixture of the evening as Portugal host Spain. At the moment in Group A2, Portugal top the Group with ten points with Spain two points behind them. Spain know what they have to do here to get to the Playoffs, so we should have a pretty entertaining game. Spain have to attack and make it an open game, however Portugal will want as little drama as possible here! They would be delighted with a draw, and I expect them to be quite negative in their approach to the game. When the sides met back in June in Spain, we saw a pretty even 1-1 draw and the only difference between the sides since then is Spain had to settle for a draw away to Czech Republic. This has been a competitive Group though, indeed both sides have lost to Switzerland at some stage. I can’t wait to see the opening 20 minutes here and see how the teams line up. As I said above, Spain have to attack while Portugal will be happy to sit back.
Spain were actually in the driving seat before losing last week against Switzerland, really and truly that was their big chance given they are away from home here. We have an open market here – Portugal are favourites with home advantage at 2.4, and it’s hard to argue that they should be shorter given a draw will do just fine for them. I couldn’t put anyone off the Portugal lay at 2.4, however Under 2.5 goals looks nice value at 1.79. As I said above, it will be interesting to see the opening minutes here and who wins out the tactical battle. Spain have to win, but obviously they won’t go too open too early. I can easily see a score line of 0-0 at half-time, and then possibly the game to open up from there. Portugal won’t need to change tactics then however, and I would expect very limited chances. Given the situation, I’m keen to keep stakes low because an early goal could see all hell break loose, but I do expect a pretty quiet game here and Unders to land.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.79 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/PorSpa
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND V ARMENIA
7.45pm Next we move to Group B1 in a relegation battle as Republic of Ireland host Armenia. At the moment, Armenia sit bottom of the Group with just three points from their five games, while Ireland have one point more sitting just above them. Those three points for Armenia came against Ireland when they produced a “shock” to beat them 1-0. Ireland again come into this game as heavy odds on favourites, and while they should get the job done here I wouldn’t be rushing to back them at 1.38. They just aren’t a side that you can trust to be backing at those low odds. As I said before their game against Scotland, at times they have shown sides that they can produce good football but ultimately they still remain a very limited side. It’s clear that they are making some progress under the manager, but how quickly that progress is coming is the big question. In practice, the squad is young and he has been giving a chance to players – I think in general he is a positive for Ireland; it’s hard to see how they could do better to be honest. The fact remains they are just a limited squad, and they won’t be challenging for winning a Group any time soon unless they actually get relegated to a C Group.
Although Ireland haven’t produced much high quality football recently, Armenia are a very limited side. Really and truly Ireland should be getting the job done here, but I still expect to see a closer game than 1.38 suggests. Ireland generally do better away from home playing counter attacking football and sometimes when they are at home or come up against a side who puts XI men behind the ball they struggle to create chances. That will make the handicap markets interesting here, and the goal markets as it’s unlikely that we see Armenia score. Even though Ireland beat Scotland 3-0 this Nations League in Dublin, it’s actually very rare that we see Ireland score three or more goals. Under 2.5 goals is definitely nice value at 1.78 – Armenia are odds on with a 1.5 goal handicap, but I marginally prefer the Unders option. The most likely outcome here is Ireland grind out a win in a low quality game.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.78 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/IreArm
UKRAINE V SCOTLAND
7.45pm We stay in Group B1 next as we decide the winner! Ukraine play Scotland in a neutral venue unfortunately for them. The way things have worked out with the World Cup Qualifiers earlier in the year, these two have played other each twice towards the end of the Group to decide the winner. We get to the final game now, and the winner spot is still up for grabs! It looked like Scotland were throwing away pole position on Saturday night against Ireland but they battled really hard in the second half to come from 1-0 down at half-time and win the game. As usual, Hampden Park was bouncing and Scotland will find this a more tricky situation even though it’s a neutral venue. Ukraine bounced back well to that defeat, hammering Armenia 6-0 but given the level of Armenia I don’t think that form is worth much. I know the score line ended up massively in favour of Scotland last week, but it was a very close game up until they took the lead. The first half was very even and there was very limited chances. Scotland go into this final game with a two point advantage, so Ukraine know what they have to do – in that sense we might see a pretty open game here,
This Scottish side have made a huge amount of progress over the last two years, and it will be interesting to see how they handle this situation. It is a tricky situation for them, do they go with their usual tactics or do they try and sit back because a draw will do them? If they do choose to sit back, will that just invite Ukraine onto them? Scotland have made progress by scoring goals and in general being more attacking – it would be a shame if they changed their mindset now. I do think we’ll get a cagey game here though – obviously given the sides meet so close together, it’s hard not to focus on the game last week. We had a very dull first half and it took until the 70th minute to open the scoring. Bar Ukraine chasing the game in the final ten minutes, it really wasn’t that open. Once again I fancy Under 2.5 goals here again, and it looks nice value at 1.73. Given the likely tactics of Scotland, I would expect another dull first half, but it is worth mentioning again given the situation an early goal could see fireworks. I just don’t see that coming, and Under 2.5 goals looks the value.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Under 1.73 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/UkrSco
