NATIONS LEAGUE: The Ultra previews SCOTLAND v PORTUGAL and NORTHERN IRELAND v BULGARIA both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
SCOTLAND V PORTUGAL
7.45pm It’s the final day of this International break on BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE with Scotland and Northern Ireland back in action on Tuesday night. We kick off the night in Group A1 as Scotland host Portugal. Going from a B Group to an A Group was always going to be very difficult for Scotland this time around, and that’s been the case so far. They were beaten on Saturday by Croatia away from home, and now they face one of the best sides in Europe in Portugal. They sit nailed to the bottom of the Group without a point from their three games, and it’s highly likely they are heading back to a B Group next time out. Scotland will still go into Euro 2028 qualifying with a good ranking given most of the sides in the A category will no doubt qualifying directly so they should get a playoff spot, which is what the Nations League is all about to be honest. As I have said this week, for sides like England the Nations League is kind of irrelevant because they will qualify for the major tournaments, but for the likes of Scotland and Northern Ireland the Nations League is massive because they are likely to miss out on finishing in the top two in their qualifying Group, so getting that playoff spot through ranking is vital.
It’s not a surprise to see that Portugal come into the game as the odds on favourites. Portugal are 1.63 with Scotland 5.7 and the draw is 4.6 at the time of writing. It’s been a case of so far so good in this Group for Portugal with three wins from three games, they had to come from behind to beat Scotland when the sides met in Portugal but who else but Ronaldo scored the winner late. Portugal went into that game as the heavy favourites, but we landed a bet on Scotland to cover the handicap. That’s obviously an option again here, but Scotland +1.5 goals is trading 1.55 which is a shorter price than the Portugal win at 1.63. I do feel that we’ll likely see Portugal win by one goal again, so I couldn’t really put anyone off either bet to be honest however I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market here. Both sides have scored and conceded in each of their three games so far this Nations League, and Both Teams To Score makes the most appeal at 1.77 in what should be an end-to-end game with Scotland having home advantage.
The Ultra Says:
One point win Both Teams To Score at 1.77 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/ScoPor
NORTHERN IRELAND V BULGARIA
7.45pm We move over to Group C3 to finish Tuesday evening as Northern Ireland host Bulgaria. We saw two draws in this Group on Saturday, and this is most open Nations League Group this season after everyone has played three games. Belarus and Bulgaria top it with five points, Northern Ireland are just behind them on four points with Luxembourg the strugglers on only one point. Drawing with Luxembourg, especially with home advantage, it a massive setback in this Group for Bulgaria because it looked like they could top it. Now things are very open, and although Northern Ireland would have been disappointed with a draw on Saturday night, they now have a pretty decent chance at topping the Group. Considering it took them so long to actually win a Nations League game, that is decent progress for Northern Ireland! Their fixtures in November are easy on paper – Belarus at home and then Luxembourg away. The thing is though, Northern Ireland were very close to odds on (2.02) to beat Belarus on Saturday night and they couldn’t get the job done. They come into this game now as the hot favourites again. The big question is can they find a goal this time?
Northern Ireland are trading 1.84 with Bulgaria 5.5 and the draw is 3.55 at the time of writing. We landed a lay on Northern Ireland on Saturday night from a value point of view, and I wouldn’t exactly be rushing to back them here at odds on. Backing Northern Ireland to win Nations League matches hasn’t been a profitable experience for anyone, and backing them at odds on has to be come with a wealth warning. This Group has been a very low quality standard so far; we actually haven’t had Over 2.5 goals land in all six games so far. Under 2.5 goals is trading 1.55 here and it’s hard to get away from that to be honest. I couldn’t put anyone off the Northern Ireland lay from a value point of view but this game screams Unders to me and I’m happy to take the 1.55. Both sides have struggled to create quality chances and score goals, I wouldn’t be surprised to see another 0-0 after we had two on Saturday.
The Ultra Says:
Three points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.55 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/NorBul
