Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland Match Analysis & Prediction
08/09/2024 7:00 pm
Bulgaria will play host to Northern Ireland at Stadion Hristo Botev on matchday two of the UEFA Nations League with both teams having made an unbeaten start to Group C 3.
Since his return as manager, Michael O’Neill has evidently needed time to improve the belief within the Northern Ireland ranks after dropping down the international pecking order.
However, a total of four victories – all with clean sheets – have been posted in their last six matches, the only defeat coming in a friendly to Spain.
Northern Ireland find themselves in a Nations League group which is winnable, and securing a 2-0 victory over Luxembourg in Belfast on Thursday night has set them on their way.
Early goals from Paddy McNair and Dan Ballard proved to be the difference as they extended their winning record at home to three successive matches.
Away success has been in far shorter supply, but O’Neill and his side will take the 1-0 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park in March as evidence that they are capable of overcoming teams at this level.
To a certain extent, Bulgaria find themselves on a similar trajectory to Northern Ireland, there being somewhat of a renaissance since the back end of 2023.
Ilian Ilieb is yet to suffer defeat as national team manager, although with six draws being posted from his seven matches in charge.
However, foundations are being built with draws having been posted against Hungary, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Romania and Slovenia ahead of the game against Belarus earlier this week.
Iliev would have perhaps expected to overcome their most recent opponents, but extending a run of conceding just twice in five matches was at least something positive to take from the goalless draw in Zalaegerszeg.
Bulgaria vs. Northern Ireland Head to head
In the previous nine meetings between these two teams, Bulgaria have claimed five victories while Northern Ireland have won two, and they have drawn in two. Northern Ireland have scored eight goals and conceded 11 in the process.
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28/03/2001Bulgaria4Northern Ireland3UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
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02/06/2001Northern Ireland0Bulgaria1UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
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06/02/2008Northern Ireland0Bulgaria1Friendlies
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31/03/2021Northern Ireland0Bulgaria0UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
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12/10/2021Bulgaria2Northern Ireland1UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
Bulgaria Team News
Bulgaria will be without the services of Filip Krastev after the playmaker was sent off for two yellow cards on Thursday.
Ivan Minchev is in line to be the straight replacement of Krastev in what may prove to be the only change to the side.
Bulgaria's Last 5 Matches
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22/03/2024Tanzania0Bulgaria1Friendlies
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25/03/2024Azerbaijan1Bulgaria1Friendlies
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04/06/2024Romania0Bulgaria0Friendlies
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08/06/2024Slovenia1Bulgaria1Friendlies
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05/09/2024Belarus0Bulgaria0UEFA Nations League
Northern Ireland Team News
O’Neill has a choice to make with his forward line with Josh Magennis having replaced Dion Charles at halftime against Luxembourg.
Jamal Lewis, Ali McCann, Ross McCausland and Paul Smyth are first in line to come into the side with some rotation a possibility.
Northern Ireland's Last 5 Matches
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22/03/2024Romania1Northern Ireland1Friendlies
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26/03/2024Scotland0Northern Ireland1Friendlies
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08/06/2024Spain5Northern Ireland1Friendlies
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11/06/2024Northern Ireland2Andorra0Friendlies
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05/09/2024Northern Ireland2Luxembourg0UEFA Nations League
Bulgaria vs. Northern Ireland: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Bulgaria or X
Best Odds
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