Luxembourg v Scotland predictions: Shot-shy Scots won't blow away minnows

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Luxembourg v Scotland international friendly on Sunday.

Where to watch

Luxembourg v Scotland
Sky Sports Football, 5pm Sunday

Best bets

Under 1.5 goals
1pt 9-4 general

Team news

Luxembourg
Striker Daniel Do Mota will start to win his 100th cap.

Scotland
David Marshall, Stephen O'Donnell, Nathan Patterson, Grant Hanley, John McGinn and Che Adams should be back after Covid concerns. John Fleck may miss out again.

Match preview

Concerns over Scotland's firepower are still even though they scored twice against the Dutch, and gritty Luxembourg aren't guaranteed to be swept aside on home soil.

A Scotland win would seem the obvious call if only based on Fifa's world rankings – the Scots are 44, Luxembourg 96 – but this will be another pick-and-mix unit sent out by Steve Clarke.

Although still relative minnows, Luxembourg are appreciably better than they ever used to be and can probably frustrate Clarke's men for periods.

Remember, while Scotland did play decently enough against Holland in that 2-2 draw on Wednesday, they've won only one of their last seven, and that was against the Faroe Islands.

Clarke has more resources to call upon following Covid issues with Grant Hanley, John McGinn and Che Adams ready for some game time. But it's doubtful Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson will team up again, surely stuck in cotton wool before next week's Euro 2020 opener against the Czech Republic.

Luxembourg's players are performing at a better standard than they were, say, a decade ago, never better illustrated than their 1-0 win over Ireland where they were competitive against woeful opposition.

They also took the lead against Portugal in their next game before succumbing 3-1.

And this week they've played well against Norway in a friendly, beaten only by Erling Haaland's late effort.

Luxembourg's previous 12 matches produced just 25 goals and it would be a surprise if this turns into a goal feast, especially with Clarke inevitably making wholesale changes as the game goes on.

Key Stat

Luxembourg's 12 matches in 2020-21 averaged 2.1 goals per game

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