Ireland v Bulgaria: Nations League predictions, betting preview, free tips & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Ireland v Bulgaria in the Nations League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 7.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Bulgaria or draw double chance
1pt 6-5 general

Team news

Ireland
Matt Doherty and James McClean have gone into quarantine while Jeff Hendrick and Jayson Molumby are suspended. Adam Idah has joined a growing injury list.

Bulgaria
Left-back Dimitar Velkovski and captain Vasil Bozhikov have tested positive for Covid-19. Vice-captain Georgi Kostadinov is one of a number of injury absentees.

Match preview

The end of the Nations League can't come quickly enough for Ireland and Bulgaria who meet in what promises to be a horror show in Dublin.

There is something riding on it – one of them will be relegated from Group B4 at the final whistle – but neither side makes much appeal given the form they are in.

The team who appeal least, however, must be uneasy 4-6 favourites Ireland.

For Ireland to land those odds they have got to find the net and that's something they haven't done in any of their last six internationals. Too often they don't even look like scoring.

They have scored just twice in their last nine competitive internationals, boast little obvious firepower, and only two members of the squad available to Stephen Kenny have managed more than a couple of international goals.

Bulgaria aren't in much better form but they could at least frustrate their hosts. They secured their only point in the reverse fixture in Sofia, a 1-1 draw which saw Bozhidar Kraev's opener cancelled out in stoppage time by Shane Duffy.

Since then Bulgaria have lost four out of four although they were unlucky to go down 2-1 at home to Finland on Sunday when CSKA Sofia's Galin Ivanov missed a penalty. They were the better team throughout but blew it.

More failed Covid-19 tests mean both camps have been weakened again and this promises to be an underwhelming affair given that Bulgaria's five matches in the group have featured nine goals and Ireland's five games have produced just five.

Key stat

Nine of the ten matches played in Group B4 have produced under 2.5 goals.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport