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With their League B status hanging in the balance, the Republic of Ireland welcomes Bulgaria to Dublin for the second leg of their UEFA Nations League play-off. Stay updated with the latest insights and predictions from pixiejars.com, your go-to source for sports betting news.
Ireland vs. Bulgaria: A Crucial Second Leg
The Republic of Ireland holds a slender advantage heading into the decisive second leg against Bulgaria, having secured a vital away win in Plovdiv. For Bulgaria, victory is the only option if they wish to avoid relegation to League C.
Despite conceding an early goal to Marin Petkov’s unstoppable strike in the sixth minute at Stadion Hristo Botev, Ireland showed resilience and fighting spirit to turn the game around. Finn Azaz quickly leveled the score with a close-range finish, before Matt Doherty’s header just before half-time gave Ireland the lead. The second half remained goalless, giving Ireland a narrow advantage to take back to the Aviva Stadium. However, manager Heimir Hallgrimsson knows there’s still work to be done.
Hallgrimsson’s Challenge: Securing League B Status
Under Hallgrimsson, Ireland finished second-to-last in their Nations League group with just six points from six games, continuing a disappointing run for Irish fans. They conceded a worrying 12 goals and scored only three – a meager return that’s hardly an improvement from the Stephen Kenny era. Maintaining their place in League B is Hallgrimsson’s immediate priority before turning his attention to the World Cup qualifiers, which kick off with a home game against Hungary in September, following two summer friendlies.
Securing a win against Bulgaria would inject much-needed confidence into the squad and provide a platform for a more positive World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bulgaria’s uphill battle: Can they roar back?
Bulgaria narrowly missed out on automatic survival, finishing second in their group, just behind Northern Ireland. A tense 1-1 draw with Belarus in their final group game consigned them to the playoffs. Now, they face the daunting task of winning in Ireland – a feat they’ve never accomplished.
Iliev’s attacking woes: Finding the back of the net
Under manager Ilian Iliev, Bulgaria has struggled for goals, scoring just seven in their last 13 matches, including Petkov’s impressive strike in the first leg. Their lack of firepower is a major concern, especially as they look ahead to the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Like Ireland, Bulgaria aren’t considered among the favorites to qualify for the World Cup. Therefore, any success in the Nations League would be a valuable morale booster for the team.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head Record
Ireland’s Recent Performances
In their last five matches, Ireland has won three, drawn none, and lost two, scoring five goals and conceding nine.
Bulgaria’s Recent Performances
Bulgaria’s recent form shows one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five outings, with three goals scored and seven conceded.
Head-to-Head History
The head-to-head record between these two nations favors Ireland, who have won two, drawn three, and lost none of their last five encounters. Bulgaria, on the other hand, has won none, drawn three, and lost two.
Match Prediction: Ireland vs. Bulgaria
Following their rare away win, Ireland will be confident of overcoming Bulgaria once again. The Boys in Green have several attacking options at their disposal, all eager to impress ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. Playing at home, they should have enough to score a couple of goals and secure their League B status for another season.
Predicted Scoreline
Prediction: Republic of Ireland 2-1 Bulgaria (Republic of Ireland wins 4-2 on aggregate).
Predicted Lineups: Ireland vs. Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland Predicted Lineup
Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, O’Shea, Brady; Cullen, Knight; Johnston, Azaz, Manning; Ferguson.
Bulgaria Predicted Lineup
P. Iliev; Nedyalkov, Atanasov, A. Petkov, Nurnberger; M. Petkov, Kraev, Gruev, Krastev, Despodov; L. Petkov.
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