Scotland vs Israel Prediction & Betting Tips - UEFA Nations League

Prediction published on 01/09/2020, 18:26  by James | Modified on 01/09/2020 at 19:26 in UEFA Nations League Predictions

Scotland kick off their Nations League campaign with a League B game against Israel at Hampden Park on Friday night. If this fixture has a familiar feeling to it, it is because this clash is already a Nations League staple. Both Scotland and Israel were in the same League C group last season with two of the three teams in the group getting promoted. Scotland finished top, three points ahead of their rivals. The teams played each other twice, each winning fiercely-contested home matches. Israel triumphed 2-1 in Haifa thanks to a Kieran Tierney own goal, while Scotland won a 3-2 thriller in Glasgow due to the hat-trick hero exploits of James Forrest. The two sides had only met twice before those meetings, during the qualifying campaign for the 1982 World Cup, Scotland winning on each occasion. Scotland manager Steve Clarke has enough to be optimistic about after topping that group but there is the feeling that he should be getting more out of a group boasting talent from the Premier League's biggest clubs. 

Scotland are currently on a three-match winning streak yet the level of opposition may hinder any celebrations that stat kicks off, one of the victories coming against San Marino. They lost the previous four games and have particularly trouble away from home as a thumping 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan proved in 2019. Israel know all about away-day blues, having lost nine of their last 11 matches on the road. They have failed to win six of their last seven matches and if the more talented Scottish players turn up, it should be the Tartan Army who notch a third consecutive home win against Israel this weekend. Back Scotland to get all three points.