Kosovo vs Bulgaria Predictions

Kosovo play their first qualifying match for the 2020 European Championship on Monday night, and the hosts will be hoping that their extra time to prepare for the game will give them an advantage against a Bulgaria side that drew their first qualifier on Friday. The visitors will have been disappointed not to have gotten off to a winning start in Group A after having the home advantage against Montenegro.

Kosovo played out a 2-2 draw at home to Denmark in a friendly on Thursday, and the hosts will have been disappointed not to have won the match after taking the lead twice. Rrahmani put Kosovo in front late in the first half and three minutes after Denmark equalised in the second half, Celina scored to restore Kosovo’s lead. However, in the first minute of stoppage time Højbjerg levelled for Denmark and the scoreline ended 2-2. Montenegro took the lead early in the second half, against the run of play, away at Bulgaria through Mugoša. With eight minutes left on the clock the hosts were awarded a penalty and Nedelev held his nerve and converted from 12-yards, to ensure Bulgaria picked up a well deserved point.

The form of both countries heading into Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Kosovo suggests that the hosts have a great chance of taking something from the match. Kosovo are unbeaten in their last eleven matches, and have kept three clean sheets in their last six internationals. Bulgaria are without a win in their last four matches and have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five internationals. Under 2.5 goals have been scored in five of Bulgaria’s last six matches, and we’re expecting another low scoring affair on Monday. Kosovo don’t have a lot of experience in qualifying campaigns, but they make up for that with a great team spirit and are well organised and tough to beat.

Arbër Zeneli has the most goals in the Kosovo squad, scoring six times in sixteen internationals. Bulgaria’s captain Ivelin Popov has scored fourteen international goals in eighty-one appearances and his creativity makes him extremely dangerous in the final third. We’re confident that Kosovo will avoid defeat on Monday and have backed the hosts with a double chance bet, with the scoreline to end 1-0 to the hosts. Kosovo are in the midst of a fantastic unbeaten run right now and head into the qualifiers on the back of an impressive Nations League campaign, while Bulgaria have failed to win any of their last four international matches and have had one fewer day to recuperate and prepare for Monday’s match, compared to their hosts.