Croatia vs Sweden Prediction & Betting Tips - UEFA Nations League

Prediction published on 08/10/2020, 22:34  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 08/10/2020 at 22:42 in UEFA Nations League Predictions

After midweek friendly matches, Croatia and Sweden are set to face off in their Match Day 3 action of the UEFA Nations League this Sunday in Zagreb. Going to this clash, both sides will be seeking their first points of the campaign after losing their opening two games. Croatia have conceded five goals and find themselves bottom while Sweden, third in Group 3 of League A, have conceded three. While Croatia have scored three goals, Sweden are yet to score in their opening two matches. The two nations registered wins in their warm up matches going to this clash; Croatia beat Switzerland 2-1 on Wednesday after coming from down. They will be looking to replicate this in the game, and also looking to keep their first clean sheet in seven games. They conceded four in each of their opening two group games, against Portugal and France. Considering the kind of opposition they faced then, it will be understandable but here the manager, Zlatko Dalic must fix the defence. The matches against Portugal and France were both played away from home and the Croats will be happy to be back at home for the Sweden clash, having done well at home in recent matches. They have seven wins in the last eight home matches and out of their last nine at home, Croatia have lost just once.

While Croatia have done well at home in recent games, the defensive problem persists; the team has conceded in seven of their last eight home matches, though they have scored in each of the eight matches and in seven of them scored two or more. Croatia’s last meeting with Sweden came in 2012, a friendly match, which Sweden won 3-1 but in the earlier three meetings between the two sides, Croatia produced wins. Sweden have never beaten Croatia in any competitive fixture and have conceded in each of their four meetings. The Suedes go to this game on the back of a 2-1 win away to Russia in a friendly match and will be hoping to replicate the same in this clash. The biggest positive from the Russia win is the return to scoring ways after failing to hit the back of the net in their opening two Nations League games. However, it is now three straight matches without a clean sheet and after losing two straight home matches in the group, they have the tough task of trying to change that when facing a side so good at home. The win away to Russia was however their fourth straight on the road and they will have the quality to handle Croatia, after their fine campaign in the Euro qualifiers. In five of their last six away matches, Sweden have scored two goals or more while keeping three clean sheets and five of the six have produced over 2.5 goals.