Saturday's World Cup qualifying predictions, betting odds and tips: Goal-hungry Norway set for more success

Saturday's best bets

Norway to win & both teams to score vs Israel
5pm Saturday
1pt 29-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

Turkey to win to nil vs Bulgaria
7.45pm Saturday
1pt Evs bet365

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Saturday's World Cup qualifying predictions

Automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup is firmly in Norway’s grasp after their perfect start to Group I and they can take another huge step towards their goal with a high-scoring home win over Israel.

Norway are bidding to reach their first World Cup in 28 years and it is now all about holding their nerve following five wins from five matches, a run which is headlined by an impressive 3-0 victory over Italy in Oslo in June.

Manchester City’s scoring sensation Erling Haaland has bagged nine goals in those five Group I assignments, five of which came against Moldova in an 11-1 rout in September, and his presence alongside Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard should ensure that they don’t let this opportunity pass them by.

This is a Norway squad packed with talent - Atletico Madrid ace Alexander Sorloth and Haaland’s City teammate Oscar Bobb provide extra support - and it means that outscoring the opposition is unsurprisingly the strategy that is often taken by manager Stale Solbakken.

That was the case when these teams met on neutral soil in Hungary in March, when Norway won 4-2, and Israel’s desperation for revenge could lead to an open encounter.

Israel have failed to score only once in their last 13 outings so can land a blow, but Norway, having scored three or more in six of their last eight wins, look to have too much firepower.

In their last three games Bulgaria have been beaten 4-0 in Greece before enduring 3-0 losses to Spain and Georgia, and they may struggle to land a blow on Group E rivals Turkey.

Turkey are in need of a response, having been hit for six by Spain in September, but they had won four of their five outings prior to that which includes a 3-2 win at Georgia and 3-0 success in Hungary.

Bulgaria had only three shots on target in their defeats to Spain and Georgia and the Crescent Stars can prevail without conceding.

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