Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland prediction, betting tips and odds: Visitors could edge it

Where to watch Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland 

You can watch Bulgaria  vs Northern Ireland in the Nations League at 5pm on Sunday, September 8, live on ITVX.

Match prediction & best bet

Northern Ireland draw no bet
1pt 21-20 general

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Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland odds

Bulgaria 6-4
Northern Ireland 2-1
Draw 9-4

Odds correct at time of publishing

Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland predictions

Northern Ireland have been in much improved form recently, winning four of their last six games, and they may be worth cautiously siding with when they face Bulgaria.

Michael O’Neill’s side have beaten Denmark and Scotland in that run and have picked up a pair of routine 2-0 wins over Andorra and Luxembourg in their last two matches.

They take on a Bulgaria team who have won just one of their last 16 games, a 1-0 victory over Tanzania, and finished bottom of their Euro 2024 qualifying group, behind Lithuania, Montenegro, Serbia and Hungary.

Don’t expect a thriller in this game. Twelve of the hosts’ last 16 games have gone under 2.5 goals and the visitors are hardly the most prolific scorers, netting nine times in their last eight outings.

Northern Ireland are a side in transition as their elder statesmen begin to bow out and there are a number of exciting young talents in the  squad. 

Five of their starters against Luxembourg last time out were 22 or younger, headlined by Liverpool’s Conor Bradley.

He scored twice against Andorra and may be expected to step up now that Jonny Evans has retired from international football. 

Bulgaria have drawn six of their last seven matches but their inability to secure a victory makes them worth opposing against a progressive Northern Ireland team. Take the stalemate out of the equation and side with Northern Ireland in the draw-no-bet market.

Key stat

Bulgaria have only won one of their last 16 games

Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland team news

Bulgaria 
Filip Krastev is suspended after being sent off against Belarus on Thursday.

Northern Ireland
Josh Magennis replaced Dion Charles at half-time last time out and will be pushing to start. Michael O'Neill may choose to rotate a few.

Probable teams

Bulgaria (4-2-3-1): Mitov; Popov, Petkov, Atanasov, Nurnberger; Gruev, Antov; Despodov, Minchev, Kirilov; Kolev 

Northern Ireland (3-4-3): Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Ballard, Brown; Bradley, Saville, Charles, Hume; McCausland, Magennis, Marshall

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