Scotland vs Cyprus Predictions

• Scotland have won four of their last six competitive games.
• However, Steve Clarke’s men have only hit more than two goals twice in their last 13 matches.
• Cyprus have only won one of their last six competitive matches.
• The visitors only scored four times in 10 games in the last UEFA qualification cycle.

Will Scottish momentum continue?

With Spain and Erling Haaland’s Norway also drawn into their qualification group for Euro 2024 in Germany, Steve Clarke’s Scotland need to get off to a quick start when they host Cyprus at Hampden Park on Saturday. Fortunately for the Tartan Army, Temur Ketsbaia’s visitors were toothless in the last qualification cycle, and their chances of causing an upset in Glasgow appear remote.

Indeed, Scotland have won four of their last six competitive matches, a run which saw them gain promotion to Group A of the Nations League – overcoming difficult opponents in the guise of Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland. Clarke’s team have three clean sheets in their last six matches, while their defence was only breached five times in six Nations League games last campaign. However, the hosts have only hit three or more goals twice in their last 13 matches – a run going back to October 2021 – so a goal-laden victory looks unlikely.

Ketsbaia – who enjoyed a spell with Dundee in his playing days – has led Cyprus to two wins and two losses since taking charge last July, and his main concern will be improving a dire attacking record. Indeed, the visitors – ranked 110^th in the world by FIFA – scored just four times in 10 games in their qualification group for last year’s World Cup, while they have since finished bottom of Group C2 in the Nations League with just four goals in six outings.

Tartan Army to march on

With Cyprus possessing a dire offensive record and Scotland looking to continue the momentum garnered from an impressive Nations League campaign, backing the hosts to win a game containing under 3.5 goals looks a good way of ensuring value while keeping multiple scorelines in play.

Cyprus failed to net in five different games in 2022, including against the likes of Estonia and Kosovo. With Scotland in good form and possessing home advantage, a 2-0 win for Clarke’s men could represent a solid correct score prediction.