Russia vs Lithuania Betting Tips & Predictions

Russia will also be going to Euro 2018 when they are in the same group as England and Wales although we are unlikely to learn a huge amount about Russia in this game. They are enjoying a really strong season and have improved dramatically since Leonid Slutsky replaced Fabio Capello as boss in August. He led the side to wins in their final 4 qualifiers in the Autumn to achieve what had looked an unlikely 2nd place in the group when he took over. They then beat Portugal in a November friendly to give the CSKA boss 5 wins out of 5 in charge of the national team but a defeat to Croatia the following week in their most recent international ended that winning streak.

His side are expected to get back to winning ways here against a fairly limited Lithuanian side. Their only victory since October 2014 came against San Marino and it was highly convincing with a last minute goal sparing the Baltic sides blushes and securing a 2-1 victory. They were beaten 3-0 at home by England in their most recent qualifier and lost 1-0 to Romania on Wednesday in a friendly. There is little about them that should really concern the Russians.

Russia have put the weaker sides to the sword in recent times. Since the World Cup in 2014 they have scored 4 or more goals on 4 occasions and 6 of their 10 wins over that period were by 2 goals or more. Therefore backing Russia -1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.750 appeals in this game. Lithuania have been beaten by 3 or more goals in 4 of their last 11 internationals too so they are a side that is used to being on the wrong end of fairly heavy defeats.