Northern Ireland vs Switzerland Predictions

• Switzerland are unbeaten in this group after drawing with Italy at the weekend
• The visitors won 1-0 at this ground in the playoffs ahead of the 2018 World Cup
• The Swiss have won 19 of their last 25 qualifiers.

Swiss to edge battle at Windsor Park

Switzerland boosted their chances of making the World Cup with an impressive point against European champions Italy on Sunday night. That’s left them in a good position ahead of a crunch clash in Belfast on Wednesday.

The Swiss have seven points from three games so far and they sit three clear of Northern Ireland – their biggest rivals for a top two finish. Defeat in Belfast could blow the playoff race wide open, but a win could see them challenge Italy for the automatic qualification spot.

The Swiss have a great track record in qualifiers which makes them a real danger at Windsor Park. They won nine of 10 matches in qualifying for the 2018 edition, but that sole defeat forced them into a playoff which they won 1-0 courtesy of a victory at Windsor.

The Swiss have won 19 of their last 25 qualifiers so I see them as the value for a victory here. Ian Baraclough’s side have picked up some solid results of late but they lack the quality to stop the visitors. An away win is my first prediction, while I’m backing a repeat of Switzerland’s narrow victory from 2017.