Kazakhstan v Scotland Betting Tips: 2 AH-0.25, 2019-03-21

Euro Qualifiers Tips

KAZAKHSTAN v SCOTLAND
European Championship Qualifiers
Thursday 21st March 2019
Kickoff: 1500hrs
Pick: Scotland AH-0.25
Bookmaker: Marathonbet
Odds: 1.62 (odds taken at 01:51 GMT, 19 Mar 2019)

The group stage of the Euro 2020 qualifiers start this Thursday and we kick things off by looking ahead to Kazakhstan taking on Scotland as the betting tips continue at the Astana Arena with both teams looking to start their group campaign off on a positive note in Group I.

European Championship Betting at Marathonbet

Kazakhstan Prediction

Kazakhstan came runners-up in Group 1 of League D in the inaugural UEFA Nations League but they were a long way off the pace set by group winners, Georgia, who proved they were too good for the company of Kazakhstan, Latvia and Andorra as the Georgians won by a significant 10-point margin ahead of Kazakhstan.

The hosts managed just one win from their six group matches overall, which was a crushing 4-0 home win over bottom nation, Andorra, but results were mixed on home soil as the hosts suffered a 2-0 loss to Georgia and could only muster a point in a 1-1 draw with Latvia.

Away from home, Kazakhstan drew two and lost once with stalemates gaining a point apiece at Andorra and Latvia, both with 1-1 draws, along with a 2-1 defeat away at Georgia.

At best, the hosts are a modest team on the European stage, although they’ve lost just once in their last six matches on home turf, which was to Georgia. International friendly wins over Azerbaijan and Moldova along with the Nations League win against Andorra have boosted their CV at home, but also against modest competitors.

 

Key-Facts – Kazakhstan v Scotland

  • Kazakhstan managed just 1 win from their 6 group matches in the Nations League
  • Scotland won 3 of their 4 group matches in the Nations League
  • These two nations have never played each other before

 

Scotland Prediction

Scotland were placed in League C of the UEFA Nations League and finished top of the group in Group 1 with a three point margin over runners-up Israel and six points clear of bottom nation Albania.

Scotland won three of their four group matches with home wins collected against Albania 2-0 and a 3-2 win against Israel, along with a resounding 4-0 win away at Albania but lost 2-1 on the road at Israel.

Alex McLeish’s side will no doubt be confident though in starting their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign on a winning note despite additional defeats in international friendlies away at Peru 2-0 and Mexico 1-0, especially given Kazakhstan’s poor standing in the European rankings.

McLeish has some useful attacking talent at his disposal with the likes of midfielder Jamie Forrest who ended up as Scotland’s leading goalscorer during the Nations League with 5 goals, along with Swansea City’s Oliver McBurnie (16 goals in the Championship to date) and Johnny Russell who hit 10 goals for American MLS outfit, Sporting Kansas last season.

Betting Tips Verdict

Despite holding home advantage, Kazakhstan’s best chances appear to be to grind out a draw but Scotland should possess too much quality in attack. I’ll use the handicap on the visitors only because it’s the opening match of the group.