Predictions Nations League - Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria

Nations League - Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria
Match Time: 16-10-2024 01:45 Wednesday (GMT+7)
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At the end of a behind-closed-doors contest with Belarus on Saturday evening, Northern Ireland were left frustrated by failing to take their chances and claiming the win that would have put them top of the Group 3 table.

They ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw, despite testing the hosts' goalkeeper with several first-half attempts and seeing two strikes chalked off - first for offside, then for a foul.

As a result, Northern Ireland have won just two of their 19 Nations League games to date - failing to score in eight - and they occupy third place at the halfway stage of this year's edition.

However, Michael O'Neill's men can now return to Belfast, where they have won both of their last two home matches by a 2-0 scoreline; victory over Bulgaria would make it three wins in a row at Windsor Park for the first time since 2017.

Having begun their latest Nations League campaign by beating Luxembourg last month, thanks to early goals from Paddy McNair and Dan Ballard, Northern Ireland's second fixture brought a 1-0 loss in Bulgaria.

That leaves them winless in six meetings with Tuesday's visitors, posting a grim record of five defeats and one draw since coming out on top in May 1979.

Indeed, Bulgaria have kept a clean sheet on each of their last three trips to Belfast, and more recently they have been keeping the back door firmly shut against most opponents in 2024.

The Lions have fiercely defended their own area this year, conceding only two goals in seven matches, with none shipped throughout their Nations League campaign so far.

Bulgaria's last three games have seen just one goal scored in total - Kiril Despodov's strike in September's 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland - and they could now post four consecutive shut-outs for the first time since 2007.

Following Saturday's 0-0 home draw against last-placed Luxembourg, Ilian Iliev's side are locked together on five points with Belarus, and both sides are aiming to hold off each other and Northern Ireland to achieve automatic promotion by claiming top spot next month.

With that would also come a potential back-door route to the 2026 World Cup: a place in the playoffs, should they falter during qualification.

As Iliev is yet to lose as national team boss - though seven of his nine matches have ended in draws - Bulgaria may be confident of taking one step closer to that prize by winning at Windsor Park.

Prediction: Northern Ireland 1-1 Bulgaria