Cyprus Vs Northern Ireland Betting Tip: Both Teams to Score (NO) – 5 June 2022

Low-key Larnaca affair anticipated?

Cyprus / Saint Petersburg ©IMAGO / Russian Look 11/12/2021

Cyprus Cyprus Vs Northern Ireland

Sunday, 5 June 2022 – 17:00 (BST)
UEFA Nations League
Pick: Both Teams to Score (NO)
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Boylesports
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 3 June 2022)

Preview: Defeats in their opening League C Group 2 fixtures means Cyprus and Northern Ireland will both be looking to atone in Larnaca on Sunday. However, with each of the past two meetings ending goalless, there is every chance both come away from AEK Arena unsatisfied.

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Cyprus – Hosts must do better in attack?

Returning to Nations League League C action for the third time in as many editions, Cyprus would begin their latest forage in precisely the same manner as those before: losing their opening group game 2-0. The latest coming against Kosovo in Larnaca, in what was a thoroughly deserved loss for nation ranked 105 – the lowest among the four sides competing in League C Group 2.

The Cypriots failed to muster a shot on target first time out, but had shot-stopper Neofytos Michael routinely called into action as Kosovo peppered the home goal, with seven of 18 attempts finding their intended target. Bearing in mind they were facing the lowest ranked side in their section other than themselves, the worst could yet be to come. Meanwhile, that is now one win from the last 12 matches (D2 L9).

Key Stat: There has been only two instances in Cyprus’ previous 16 fixtures whereby both teams scored, with Cyprus failing to score in 13 of these games.

 

Northern Ireland Win To Nil
2/1

Betfair

 

Northern Ireland – UNL drought dragging on?

That first Nations League victory continues to be elusive for Northern Ireland after they begun the 2022-23 season in an all too similar vein. A 1-0 loss at home to Greece on Thursday, in which they carved out more openings than their opponents without truly threatening a breakthrough, extending their winless start to life in this competition to 11 matches (D2 L9). Will they find solace in Larnaca?

Northern Ireland came away with a goalless draw the last time they visited Cyprus, for a friendly encounter in 2014. They’ve not won here since 1971 (W1 D1 L1 all-time record away vs Cyprus). So the omens are hardly promising about a side that has won only twice in the last eight matches (D2 L4) – against Luxembourg and Lithuania – and failed to score across three of their last four encounters.

Key Stat: Not since drawing a UEFA Nations League play-off semi-final away in Bosnia (1-1 at the end of normal time, losing 2-1 after extra-time) has Northern Ireland played out a draw away from home, winning four and losing six of ten subsequent said matches.

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Cyprus Vs Northern Ireland Betting Advice

The pair are already playing catch up in their section following opening night losses. For Cyprus it was a case of deja vu as they succumbed 2-0 in their opening fixture for the third edition running. As for Northern Ireland, their miserable Nations League endeavours shows no sign of abating, beaten 1-0 at home by Greece. Between them they have won two of 24 Nations League group games.

 

Cyprus Vs Northern Ireland – Key Facts:

  • Northern Ireland lead the head-to-head count between the countries, winning three of six previous encounters. Each of the last two, however, finished goalless.
  • Neither side has done a huge amount of winning of late. Cyprus with one win in their last 12 fixtures (D2 L9) and Northern Ireland two from their last eight (D2 L4).
  • With the previous two meetings both finishing goalless, there is every chance we could see a repeat on Sunday. Cyprus would fail to score in 13 of the last 16 matches while Northern Ireland are without a goal in three of their last four.

 

Putting your faith in either outfit seems a risky business then. Particularly as neither seem to know where the goal is. Cyprus are without a goal in 13 of the last 16 matches while Northern Ireland have blanked in five of eight. Interestingly, though, NI have fared better in this respect on their travels. Ian Baraclough’s men would only fail to score in two of the last five away, with wins in Estonia, Lithuania and Luxembourg.

Best Betting Odds – Cyprus Vs Northern Ireland

Cyprus – 17/5 (Coral)
Draw – 11/5 (Bet365)
Northern Ireland – 21/20 (Boylesports)