North Macedonia vs Poland Predictions

North Macedonia sit third in Group G, two points behind the leaders Poland who still maintain a 100% record after wins in each of their opening two matches. North Macedonia have never beaten Poland before, with the pair meetings on three previous occasions, but the last time they had the home advantage the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

North Macedonia went in at the break 1-0 down away at Slovenia in their last qualifying match, with Zajc getting the goal for the hosts in the thirty-fourth minute. However, just two minutes after the restart Bardhi equalised for North Macedonia and that’s how the scoreline remained, which on the balance of play was probably the most the visitors deserved. Poland had 69% of the possession, fourteen corners, and eighteen shots during the ninety minutes, but it wasn’t until the latter stages that they sealed a deserved victory. Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski broke the deadlock in the seventy-sixth minute and defender Glik wrapped up the points six minutes from time with the hosts second goal.

The limited head to head record doesn’t give us a lot to go on, but both teams performances since the tail end of 2018 suggests that backing North Macedonia with a double chance bet is well worth a punt. North Macedonia drew their last home game against Poland 1-1 back in 2008. North Macedonia have only lost one of their last six international matches, while Poland have lost three of their last six. Under 2.5 goals were produced in two of North Macedonia’s last four and each of Poland’s last five matches, and both teams have only kept two clean sheets in their last six matches, which is why we are backing Friday’s game to end in a 1-1 draw.

North Macedonia captain Goran Pandev and fellow forwards Aleksandar Trajkovski and Ilija Nestorovski provide the majority of the teams goals, but at the age of 35 Pandev isn’t the player he once was. Robert Lewandowski captains Poland and leads from the front, scoring 56 goals in 104 appearances for his country, while Milik and Grosicki also chip in with goals sporadically. We’re confident that a double chance bet on the hosts will payout on Friday, and have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. North Macedonia are the form favourites heading into Friday’s match, but neither side have tasted defeat in qualifying so far. Poland have the better squad which is why we are leaning towards a draw rather than a home win, but the last time these two sides met in North Macedonia the game ended 1-1.