Israel Vs Scotland
Israel Vs Scotland Wednesday 18th November 2020 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Nations League Group B2
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 20/23
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 16th November 2020)
Preview: Promotion and relegation is all plausible in this concluding fixture in Nations League Group B2. Israel can avoid dropping down a league with victory over a Scotland outfit who know only a win of their own can assure them of finishing top of the group.
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Table of Contents
Israel Preview – Goals at both ends the norm?
Out of contention for promotion, all that remains now for Israel (W1 D2 L2) is ensuring they are not demoted to League C. Fortunately for them their fate rests solely in their hands. By hopefully clinching a second win of this Nations League campaign, in Netanya against Scotland on Wednesday, they will render whatever bottom of the group Slovakia manage elsewhere that same night irrelevant.
Prior to losing 1-0 away to the Czech Republic on Sunday, Israel had both scored and conceded in all four group games. That same trend, meanwhile, has occurred in each of their previous seven home internationals (W2 D3 L2). This includes both matches played during this season’s tournament. Having been held to a 1-1 draw on home soil by Slovakia, they were then beaten 2-1 by the Czechs.
Despite a disappointing effort collectively thus far, one player above all others has stood out. 33-year-old Eran Zahavi scored 91 goals across 106 appearances during his time in China with Guangzhou R&F, earning him a move to Dutch side PSV in the summer. He has found the net five times in this season’s Nations League, a figure only Norway’s Erling Haaland, with six, can better of those in League B.
Scotland Preview – Promotion still in their hands?
Having confirmed their participation in the forthcoming European Championship scheduled for next summer, Scotland (W3 D1 L1) can complete a week that will live long in the memory by also topping their Nations League group. Victory in Israel would settle Group B2 for Steve Clarke’s men. However, anything less leaves the door firmly ajar for the Czech Republic, who are only a point further back in second.
Three points are far from guaranteed either. Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw when these sides clashed at Hampden Park in the opening game, while last month’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final went all the way to penalties after it ended goalless over 120 minutes. And if their 2018 Nations League encounter in Israel is anything to go by, when losing 2-1, the Scots could be relying on a favour elsewhere to perverse top spot.
Scotland have already spurned an opportunity to wrap up this group, becoming the first team to lose to Slovakia over the weekend. Yet it was another strong display overseen by Clarke, who made eight changes from the side that overcame Serbia on penalties in last week’s play-off final. The outcome, losing 1-0 away in Trvana, was a bitter one, seeing their nine game unbeaten run (W6 D3) come to an end.
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Israel Vs Scotland Betting Advice
There is everything to play for in Group B2. Israel (W1 D2 L2) cannot finish any higher than third but would be demoted with a loss here and a win elsewhere from Slovakia. They haven’t won either of their two matches at home so far (D1 L1). As for Scotland (W3 D1 L1), they lead the way but only be a point. Steve Clarke’s men have won one and lost one on the road but will top the group with a second victory.
Israel vs Scotland– Key Facts:
- A win for Scotland would see them top the group and earn promotion to League A, whereas Israel must win to be certain of avoiding a fourth-place finish.
- Both teams to score has returned in seven successive home games for Israel and in three of the last four away matches for Scotland.
- These sides have already met twice in 2020, drawing 1-1 and 0-0 in Scotland.
Not only did Scotland lose for first time in ten matches last time out in Slovakia, they also failed to score for the very first time in that sequence. Scotland had previously netted against Cyprus (2), Czech Republic (2) and Serbia (1) in three previous away encounters. Perhaps, therefore, they return to more fruitful ways here, against an Israel side that has seen its past seven home internationals return both teams to score.
Best Betting Odds – Israel Vs Scotland
Israel – 7/4 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 47/20 (Unibet)
Scotland – 31/20 (Bet365)
