Norway Vs Northern Ireland
Wednesday 14th October 2020 – 19:45 (GMT)
UEFA Nations League
Pick: Over 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds displayed correct at time of writing: 12th October 2020)
Preview: In a reversal of their Matchday 2 meeting – which was surprisingly one-sided as the visitors that day, Norway, ran up an emphatic 5-1 scoreline – can Northern Ireland cap a week of mixed emotions by securing a positive outcome at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway.
UEFA Nations League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Norway Preview – Haaland can inspire second quickfire triumph?
“He cannot stop scoring,” was the headline which most caught my attention after Erling Braut Haaland left onlookers salivating once more following his hat-trick exploits in Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Romania in Oslo. Those goals moved the supremely talented 20-year-old striker on to six goals in as many international appearances. More importantly it ensured Norway kept pace with Austria at the Group B1 summit.
With a vastly superior goal difference, win all three remaining group games – including the potentially crunch clash in Vienna with Austria, who are currently top of the group courtesy of their 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture – and the Norwegians could secure the one and only promotion berth into League A. Any let up here, therefore, against the team bottom of the standings, would be a big blow to those aspirations.
The latest success all the more impressive meanwhile as it came within days of suffering heartbreak at home to Serbia, when a 2-1 loss after extra-time meant Lars Lagerback’s men missed out on next month’s play-off finals and, consequently, will not be at the European Championship finals next summer. Some of that frustration was seemingly reserved for Romania, but is there any in reserve for Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland Preview – Confidence ebbed away under Baraclough?
Jubilant scenes greeted the final whistle in Sarajevo on Thursday, as Northern Ireland progressed on to the play-off final for next summer’s European Championship with victory over Bosnia on penalties. Some of the feel good factor has diminished since, however, following Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Austria inside Windsor Park, Belfast, in their third group games of this season’s Nations League.
At the midway stage The Green and White Army are the only side still without a win in Group B1, having been on the receiving end of a 5-1 pasting on Matchday 2 at home to Norway after picking up what felt like a decent enough point in a 1-1 draw in Bucharest against Romania. However, the latter have since been humbled by the Norwegians too, which might hint at further misery in store for Ian Baraclough’s team.
With defeat last time out, Northern Ireland have failed to win their last six matches (D3 L3) since a 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic in a friendly last October. They last won a competitive fixture, meanwhile, in June 2019 when edging out Belarus 1-0 in Minsk (D3 L5 thereafter). It is far from inspiring, as is the fact they have netted only four times across their last six contests, as goals, as well as positive results, have dried up.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Norway Vs Northern Ireland Betting Advice
A peculiar side are Northern Ireland. A typical ‘sum of its parts’ outfit down the years capable of producing against all the odds. As of this moment, though, they seem a little lost despite Thursday’s hard-fought and, ultimately, fortuitous triumph against the Bosnians. By quite some contrast are the Norwegians, who are often erratic but also explosive and certainly a team on the up and worth keeping tabs on.
Norway Vs Northern Ireland – Key Facts
- There has been a minimum of two goals in each of the last 15 matches played by Norway (W9 D4 L2), with the reverse encounter in Belfast finishing 5-1 in their favour.
- Six games without a win (D3 L3) and only four goals scored by Northern Ireland, who are the only team in Group B1 yet to win (D1 L2).
- Norway, who dominate the head-to-head record with six wins from eight meetings (L2), have now won each of the previous two encounters with Northern Ireland.
Norway now pack quite the punch going forward and it is no surprise the goals have flowed. Lars Lagerback’s side has now scored in 18 consecutive games – two shy of their longest-ever such streak of 20 games – with each of the last 15 producing Over 1.5 Goals. A further nine went Over 2.5, while 11 featured both teams on the score sheet. Moreover, there were six of them when these sides met on Matchday 2 (1-5 to Norway).
Best Match Odds – Norway Vs Northern Ireland
Norway – 9/20 (Betway)
Draw – 18/5 (Unibet)
Northern Ireland – 13/2 (Bet365)
