Switzerland vs Bulgaria Predictions

• Switzerland need to match or better Italy’s result and overhaul a two-goal difference deficit to the Azzurri
• Switzerland have won seven of their last eight home games.
• Bulgaria have lost eight of their last 14 away games.

Azzurri leave door ajar for Swiss

Jorginho’s late penalty miss in Rome has left the door ajar for Switzerland to push European champions Italy out of the automatic qualifying slot and into the playoffs.

Given their spurn recent home form and the fact that opponents Bulgaria are not strong travellers, the Swiss will feel they can win and overturn Italy’s goal difference advantage too.  Murat Yakin’s staff will need to pay close attention to the events in Belfast on Monday, but the Italians only beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in March and Ian Baraclough’s side have kept three home clean sheets in a row.

The outcome of this clash in Lucerne will be linked to the other game, but we fully expect a highly-motivated Swiss line-up to fulfil their end of the bargain and take all three points.

Hosts can establish early advantage

Yakin’s team are likely to be knocking on Bulgaria’s door from very early on in the contest, so the added risk of backing the hosts to lead at both half-time and full-time seems worthwhile.

Bulgaria appear to be on the up after plumbing the depths over the last few years. They won three of their next five games after holding off a hangover-ridden Azzurri side in September, but still found a way to lose to lowly Lithuania last month.

With nothing on the game for them at all, we don’t see them troubling the Swiss defence unduly and feel a 3-0 win is achievable here. Whether that will be enough is up to Northern Ireland and Italy to sort out.