Cyprus vs Northern Ireland Predictions

• There have been fewer than three goals in five of Cyprus’ last seven home matches
• Only two of Northern Ireland’s last nine games have contained three or more goals
• Northern Ireland have won just one of their last nine competitive away ties

Can Cyprus get off the mark?

A 2-0 defeat at home to Kosovo was hardly how Cyprus envisaged their Nations League campaign would get underway, and they have now won just three of their eight home games in the competition.

Goals tend to come at a premium for Nikos Kostenoglou’s side, who have only scored in four of their last 14 fixtures, with nine of those outings containing less than than three strikes.

Indeed, only two of their current squad have netted more than five times for their country, while five of their last seven home fixtures have seen two goals or fewer.

Northern Ireland desperate for form

Northern Ireland also suffered a defeat on match day one, failing to score for the third time in four matches as they lost 1-0 at home to Greece.

Ian Barraclough’s side do tend to be stronger on the road, winning four of their last seven away fixtures, but two of those came in friendlies.

Only seven of their last 20 competitive clashes on their travels have contained three or more goals, a run dating back to Euro 2016, while they have never been successful on the road in a Nations League tie.

I predict there will be fewer than three goals in this game and I think the two teams could cancel each other out, with a 1-1 draw my correct score prediction.