San Marino v Russia Betting Tip Under 4.5 goals – 19 November 2019

Bank on San Marino being stubborn

David Tomassini/San Marino ©imago images / CTK Photo19.11.2019

San MarinoSan Marino vs RussiaRussian Federation
19th November 1945hrs
Football – International– Euro 2020 Quaifying
Pick Under 4.5 goals
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 21/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Monday 18 November)

The qualification positions have been confirmed in Group J but Liechtenstein are looking to end the campaign by gaining their first win against a Bosnian team who are able to finish third should they win and results go for them elsewhere.

Euro 2020 Qualification Betting at Unibet

San Marino Preview – Will scoring their first goal of qualification last time out give San Marino a lift?

If there was one certainty in international football it’s that San Marino would be the whipping boys in a qualification campaign. Officially ranked as the worst team in football, the tiny state continue to struggle when they get on to this stage. It’s no surprise considering their paucity of resources but they continue to participate and take enormous pride representing their nation. Being drawn in a group that includes the number one ranked team in the world and a team who reached the quarter finals of their own World Cup in the previous year was always going to be prime for a few heavy defeats. And that’s the way it’s proven.

With one game of the campaign left San Marino are on course to concede 50 goals in the section. They come into Tuesday’s game having allowed 46 including conceding nine to both Russia and Belgium. They tend to be more compact at home, however, shipping no more than four in any of their four home games to date. Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Kazakhstan was significant for the reason that it was San Marino’s first goal in the group.

Russia to win 4-0 Correct Score
15/2

Russia Preview – Are Russians set to take their frustration from Belgian defeat out on lowly San Marino?

Russia are already looking forward to competing in Euro 2020 and their qualification from this group has never been in doubt. Following a successful showing in the 2018 World Cup and good Nations League campaign, confidence was high coming into these qualifiers. Away to Belgium in their opening game was perhaps not the ideal start. However, despite losing 3-1 the Russians have came back very strongly responding with seven straight victories.

It’s not always been pretty and three single goal-margin wins indicate that. But, Russia have also been impressive at various stages of the campaign – scoring at least four goals in four different matches. Artem Dzyuba is their top scorer in qualification with nine goals, just three off Harry Kane. He could well be in with a live chance of adding to that should he start tomorrow. The Zenit striker scored four the last time he faced these opponents.

Key-Facts – San Marino vs Russia

  • It took them until their ninth game bit San Marino scored their first goal in this campaign in the 3-1 home defeat to Kazakhstan
  • Qualification was already assured but Russia will be smarting somewhat from their 4-1 home loss against Belgium
  • Russia are responsible for San Marino’s joint heaviest defeat of this campaign when winning 9-0 back in June

San Marino vs Russia Betting Advice

If ever there was a game that neither team really wanted to play it would be this one. San Marino could be doing without another heavy defeat whilst Russia have gotten what they need out this campaign and their players will just be wanting to get back to club football. Taking that somewhat cynical view out of it, though, and it is an opportunity for the visitors to bounce back from that defeat to Belgium at the weekend when they were very much second best. San Marino’s ambitions are much more modest and keeping it below four would be a success.
The outcome will depend largely on Russia’s motivation to the game. San Marino have shown that they can frustrate visiting teams to some degree. Should Russia not play at a high tempo or make a lot of changes then it could be a fairly routine win by a couple of goals. I’m inclined to side with this point of view for the fact that they just don’t need to exert themselves. All four of San Marino’s home games in this campaign have went under 4.5 goals. Indeed, only one of their last nine have went above that mark.