Azerbaijan vs Hungary Predictions

Back in March Azerbaijan were narrowly beaten in their first qualifying match away at Croatia, while Hungary recovered from a disappointing defeat in Slovakia with a win in their second qualifying match at home to Croatia. Azerbaijan are one of the improving European sides and will be confident in their ability to put their first points in qualifying on the board this weekend, but Hungary remain the bookmaker’s favourites to win the game.

Despite having 55% of the overall possession and five shots on target to their guest’s two, Azerbaijan were held to a goalless draw in a friendly at home to Lithuania last time out. A thirteenth minute effort from Rebić handed Croatia the lead in Hungary back in March, but Szalai struck back before the break for the hosts to make it 1-1. Croatia had more of the ball, but Hungary created much the better goal scoring opportunities in the second half, and scored the winning goal through Pátkai in the seventy-sixth minute to get Hungary’s first points of the qualification stage.

The head to head record points to a Hungary win this weekend, but these two sides haven’t met in eight years and Azerbaijan have certainly improved as a footballing nation since then. The performances and form of both teams heading into Saturday’s qualifier, suggests that a draw is the most likely result and under 2.5 goals are to be expected. Azerbaijan have drawn two of their last five matches, while Hungary have failed to win any of their last nine away games. Under 2.5 goals were scored in three of Azerbaijan’s and four of Hungary’s last five matches, and Azerbaijan have kept three clean sheets in their last six matches. Both countries have only lost two of their last six international matches, which is why we’re backing a 1-1 draw between the pair this weekend.

Dimitrij Nazarov has scored eight goals in thirty-nine appearances for Azerbaijan from midfield, while Rufat Dadashov presents the hosts’ main goal scoring threat up front. Hungry captain Balázs Dzsudzsák has netted twenty-one times in one-hundred caps from midfield, while striker Ádám Szalai has scored twenty goals in fifty-four appearances. We’re confident that Saturday’s game will end in a draw, and have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1. Hungary are the favourites and have a good history against Azerbaijan, but the hosts have proved a tough team to beat of late and have a good defensive record heading into Saturday’s match.