Latvia vs Serbia Predictions

• Serbia have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games
• Latvia have scored one goal in their last three games
• 11 of Serbia’s last 13 games have featured fewer than three goals

Serbia face huge double-header

Serbia face a crucial World Cup qualifying double header this month with Saturday’s must-win match in Riga against Latvia preceding a visit from Group K leaders England next week. Dragan Stojkovic’s side cannot afford to drop any points in the first match if they are to go into the second with any confidence or momentum.

The legendary ex-Yugoslavia star has brought in some new faces and jettisoned some of the old guard, but the core of the team and style of play remains pretty familiar. Nikola Milenkovic and Strahinja Pavlovic lock down the defence with Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic providing even more protection as Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic offer target practice for the two attacking wing-backs.

Their solid shape and balance makes Serbia difficult to beat but susceptible to drawing against teams that perhaps they should be winning against. They began qualifying with a tense 0-0 draw against Albania before brushing Andorra aside 3-0.

Eagles can edge a low-scoring game

Latvia, meanwhile, have already played three qualifiers – with mixed results. Coached by ex-Italy Under-21 boss Paolo Nicolato, 11 Wolves have won in Andorra, lost 3-0 to England at Wembley and earned a creditable 1-1 draw at home to Albania.

Unfortunately for them, Serbia will have plenty of support in the stands on Saturday as the country is currently staging the Eurobasket finals. The visitors should have enough quality in attack to snaffle up the chances they create while Serbia’s rock-solid defence gives little away again.

Backing Stojkovic’s side to win to nil appeals given they have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games while Latvia have scored one goal in their last three games. But it may be more profitable to take the visitors to win with fewer than three goals in the game because 11 of the Eagles’ last 13 games have featured fewer than three strikes.