Scotland will look to keep their top spot in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League when they welcome Ireland to Hampden Park for their round five tie on Saturday night.
Scotland have made a good campaign in the Nations League this season as they have won three and lost one of their four matches in Group 1 of League B. as result they lead the group with two points above second-placed Ukraine with two matches remaining to go.
A win on Saturday will give the Scots a clear chance to earn their promotion to League A next year. They are coming off a confidence-boosting 3-0 win over Ukraine and they will look to build on that as they seek their third consecutive win in the group.
Meanwhile, Ireland have had an inconsistent run in the competition this season as they have only won one of their four matches in Group B1. They currently sit third in the group standings on four points, just a point above rock-bottom Armenia and five points off Scotland at the top.
They are coming off a 1-1 draw against Ukraine and they will be looking to build on that as they seek their second victory in the group. Ireland humiliated Scotland in the reverse fixture as they claimed a 3-0 win at home and they will be hoping for a similar result here.
However, the Scots have only lost one of their last seven home matches across all competitions and thus Ireland need to bring more than just their A-game.
Scotland vs Ireland head to head
Both sides have met in seven encounters since 1986 with Ireland claiming four victories, while Scotland have claimed one victory and there have been two draws.
- Ireland 3-0 Scotland 11/06/22
- Ireland 1-1 Scotland 13/06/15
- Scotland 1-0 Ireland 14/11/14
- Ireland 1-0 Scotland 29/05/11
- Scotland 0-2 Ireland 12/02/03
Home
- Scotland 3-0 Ukraine
- Armenia 1-4 Scotland
- Ireland 3-0 Scotland
- Scotland 2-0 Armenia
- Scotland 1-3 Ukraine
Away
- Ukraine 1-1 Ireland
- Ireland 3-0 Scotland
- Ireland 0-1 Ukraine
- Armenia 1-0 Ireland
- Ireland 1-0 Lithuania
Scotland team news
Scotland will be without Nathan Patterson due to injury.
Ireland team news
Ireland will be without Caoimhin Kelleher and Darragh Lenihan due to injuries.
Prediction and odds
- Double chance (1, X)
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5