We look ahead to the latest round of matches in the Nations League
We look ahead to the latest round of matches in the Nations League

Nations League betting preview: Free tips, predictions and best bets for games including Israel v Scotland


Scotland are tipped to get a welcome win on the road, while we've got verdicts on Poland v Portugal and Russia v Sweden.

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Israel v Scotland (1945 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

It’s a big test for Scotland in their Nations League campaign as they travel to Haifa to take on Israel in the second game of their section.

The hosts are not in the best of form though having won just once in their last six and scoring two goals – one of them netting their only win in that spell away in Liechtenstein. They’ve also got just one win in their last eight at home.

The Scots won their first game at Hampden Park against Albania – who beat Israel in the other game in the group so on form the Scots will fancy their chances of a result.

There’s not been a lot of goals from either of these sides with Scotland only scoring three in their last six themselves when drawing four blanks, and being without Ryan Fraser and Leigh Griffith is a big blow to their creativity.

With the likes of Steven Naismith and Oli McBurnie Scotland should, and the emphasis is on should, have enough to get the win, although it promises to be a low-scoring affair.

Prediction: Israel 0-1 Scotland (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)

Best bet: Scotland win at 13/8


Poland v Portugal (1945 BST)

This should be a decent contest and one the home side will relish seeing as Portugal will be without star man Cristiano Ronaldo for the game in Katowice.

Ronaldo has missed the last two games including the Nations League win over Italy so Portugal have proved they can win without him, but they’re still learning to alter their game plan to suit playing without their star man.

Portugal, obviously, have bags of talent beyond Ronaldo but their style of play does not inspire, and Poland are looking to make amends after their shocking World Cup display.

The Poles are usually red-hot in qualifying for major tournaments behind Robert Lewandowski’s goals, and this competition fits the same bill so there’s a real chance here for the hosts to grab all three points.

Prediction: Poland 2-1 Portugal (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)

Best bet: Poland win at 9/5


Montenegro v Serbia (1945 BST)

This game could get interesting in Podgorica in the first meeting of the two sides since they broke away from each other in 2006, having been unified as Serbia & Montenegro for just three years.

Both sides are on four points after beating Lithuania and drawing with Romania, so this is a crucial game also for their standing in the group.

Serbia will face a testing atmosphere but it’s clear that they’re a class above, as showcased by their decent displays at the World Cup, and at around even money or shades of odds against they’re well worth siding with.

Prediction: Montenegro 0-2 Serbia (Sky bet Odds: 15/2)

Best bet: Serbia win at Evens


Russia v Sweden (2045 BST)

The World Cup hosts have certainly been boosted by their summer exploits, and results since then have suggested that the team could be coming of age under Stanislav Cherchesov.

Sweden, by contrast, haven’t performed well at all after their World Cup quarter-final defeat against England, losing both to Austria and Turkey – the latter having been 2-0 up – and there’s no reason to suggest they can get a result away from home here.

Prediction: Russia 2-1 Sweden (Sky Bet odds: 17/2)

Best Bet: Russia win at Evens

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Odds correct as of 1901 BST on 10/10/18

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