Russia v Saudi Arabia Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2018

Saudi Arabia to hold host Russia

Russia v Saudi Arabia - World Cup 2018

Russia v Saudi Arabia Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 14th June – 4.00 p.m
(Full time: 5:0 – goals: Gazinsky 12´, Cheryshev 43´, 90´+, Dzyuba 71´, Golovin 90´+)

It is a big year for Russia as the country is hosting the World Cup for the first time in its history. However, with their national side on a dismal run of form, actually their longest winless streak in their history, then confidence in the host nation isn’t abound. Can Saudi Arabia, who are one of the tournament’s rank outsiders, turn up and produce an upset in the 2018 World Cup opener? Russia are now the lowest ranked nation at this summer’s tournament.

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Russia News and Form

It will be interesting to see how Russia handle themselves in this opener. The eyes of the world will all be on them as hosts of the 2018 World Cup but this is a banana skin of a fixture for them. That is because of their lack of form going into the tournament as they are currently running on a seven-match winless streak since their last victory which was a 4-2 success over South Korea back in October 2017. They hosted the Confederations Cup last summer and their only success in the tournament was a win over New Zealand. During this current winless streak of form though they have gone up against some tough opposition in the form of Argentina, Spain, Brazil and France who, along with Germany, make up the big five at the 2018 World Cup.

Russia v Saudia Arabia - World Cup 2018 Infographic

In their final preparation matches though Russia could only manage a 1-0 loss against Austria and then a 1-1 draw with Turkey. Going back to the victory over New Zealand last summer Russia acheived, that was the last clean sheet for them, not having managed one in any of their 10 games since. Under 2.5 goals at bet365 bet365 is at 4/6 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 8:55 p.m.). They do look a bit of non-threat and don’t appear to have a real clear idea of tactics or direction so they could well come under some pressure in this one. Russia have scored in just three of their last six fixtures but a Russia 1-0 result in the bet365 correct score market is at 15/4 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 8:55 p.m.).

Saudi Arabia News and Form

Saudi Arabia really have nothing to fear going into this one and while they are underdogs they could well play themselves into contention of getting something out of it. A Saudi Arabia double chance is at 2/1 odds with bet365* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 8:55 p.m.). It may be an appealing option for punters because of how mediocre Russia look. It is not as if Saudi Arabia are in great form having lost their last three games but in that sequence, there were 2-1 losses against Italy and Germany and they did earn back-to-back wins in May against Algeria and Greece. Saudi Arabia have scored in all but one of their last five games both teams to score at bet365 is at 11/8 odds* (Betting Odds taken from June 10th, 2018 at 8:55 p.m.). Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Sahlawi ended up as the joint top goalscorer in all of the World Cup 2018 qualifiers (right up there alongside Robert Lewandowski) and so he is probably their best option for goals and worth considering in the anytime goalscorer market. This is the first World Cup appearance since 2006 and they are in a position of having nothing to lose and therefore make a big impact in unsettling the hosts.

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Russia v Saudi Arabia Head to Head

This fixture on Thursday will be the first ever competitive fixture between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Russia v Saudi Arabia Betting Odds*

Russia 2/5
Draw 16/5
Saudi Arabia 17/2
* (Betting Odds taken from bet365 on June 11th, 2018 at 1.18 a.m.)

Russia v Saudi Arabia Predictions

This could be a bit of an uncomfortable game for host nation Russia because of how poor their form has been. The Russians may well be made to toil in this one by their opponents and given the recent results against Italy and Germany that Saudi Arabia have produced, it may be worth backing the draw in the match outright.