Faroe Islands look tempting value at home

From 7.45pm

A regionalised Nations League probably seems a good idea to Azerbaijan as they reach the mid-point of an 11,000km round trip which may not end well.

Playing the Faroe Islands away is a thankless fixture for anyone but especially Azerbaijan, who have crossed four time zones to get to Torshavn where the home side continue to improve under Lars Olsen and look worth backing.

The islanders, almost all of whom are now professionals, are unbeaten in five games at home culminating in a 2-0 win against Malta in their League D Group Three opener.

The Faroes, who finished ahead of Latvia in their World Cup qualifying group, are ranked 16 places higher than Azerbaijan, who have drawn their two openers, against Kosovo and Malta.

Olsen’s hosts are outsiders so make some appeal, maybe with the safety net of the draw no bet.

There are some really tight-looking contests on the coupon – the matches between Russia and Sweden, and Poland and a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal aren’t easy to assess.

There’s also less of a class gap these days between Montenegro and neighbours Serbia, who clash in what could turn into a fiery League C Group 4 encounter in Podgorica.

Montenegro, marshalled by the outstanding Stefan Savic and with skipper Stevan Jovetic fit after a two-month layoff, are serial improvers under former Partizan Belgrade coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic.

Both countries have four points from two games – each has beaten Lithuania and drawn with Romania – and the Serbs are a long way from full strength.

Skipper Aleksandar Kolarov is crocked, Nemanja Matic has withdrawn, Lazio ace Sergei Milinkovic-Savic is enduring a dismal start to his season in Serie A and coach Mladen Krstajic is going to send out a defence that is extremely inexperienced at international level.

Recommendations
Faroe Islands draw no bet
1pt 11-10 Betfred
Montenegro v Serbia draw
1pt 12-5 bet365

Bet on these matches at Soccerbase.com

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