With international football and the UEFA Nations League making its return on Thursday, we re offered a list of noteworthy meetings from across Europe this week. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a midweek acca, we have searched far and wide to find you a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Thursday 3rd September
BST 19:45 Ukraine vs Switzerland
Starting with Thursday s hosts, really laying down the most clinical of markers during their delayed European qualifying campaign last year, Ukraine have suddenly transformed into quite the dark horses over the past two years. Enjoying what has been nothing short of a stunning resurge since appointing new boss and former icon Andriy Shevchenko, the Yellows stormed their way to top spot in Group B and famously managed to come past former European champions Portugal in doing so. One of just a handful of teams to march through qualifying with an unbeaten record to their name, Ukraine are unbeaten across any format since November 2018 and have remarkably lost just one of their last 20 appearances on the bounce. With a real chance to pick up a notable scalp on Thursday night, Shevchenko has also seen his men really impress with their continued performances on home soil. Including what was a shock 2-1 win against Portugal in Kiev back in October, the hosts are unbeaten in all nine of their last home fixtures, collecting eight wins on their stellar purple patch. On the flip side, while Switzerland might have also managed to secure their spot at next year s European Championships as winners in Group D, the Reds have shown some worrying issues on foreign soil and should be in for what is another tough test on their travels this week. Including a 1-0 defeat away at Denmark last year, the inaugural Nations League semi-finalists have managed to win just a trio of their last nine contests on the road, a run that also saw them only leave Dublin with a point during qualifying.
Tip: Ukraine win @ 29/20
19:45 Turkey vs Hungary
Signing off their now Euro 2021 qualifying campaign with what turned out to be a routine 2-0 win away at Andorra, Turkey are another country that have gained a long list of admirers after a stunning purple patch last year. Managing to end their major-tournament exile after running world champions France an extremely close second in Group H, Şenol Güneş men have made a long list of improvements over the last two years and are well worth keeping an eye out for this time around. Collecting 23 points in their 10 qualifying contests, Turkey really made a name for themselves with what is still remembered as a famous 2-0 victory against Les Bleus on home soil back in June of last year. While they might have been left heartbroken to have seen France snatch a late point when they made the trip to Paris for the reverse fixture, the Reds have lost just one of their last 17 appearances across all competitions and have really impressed with their continued showings at home. Including that famous victory against France last year, Thursday s hosts have not lost a contest on home soil since 2018 and have remarkably conceded just a single goal in over 750 minutes of action. Up against a Hungary side who were only continuing to show some glaring issues last year, Turkey should be looking to cash in when they return to action this week. Last seen back in November getting hit with a 2-0 defeat against Wales on foreign soil, the guests have lost five of their last six contests across all formats, a worrying run highlighted by defeats against Montenegro and Slovakia.
Tip: Turkey win and under 3.5 goals @ 23/20
19:45 Russia vs Serbia
Starting with Thursday s hosts, only continuing to build off of their eye-catching run when hosting the 2018 World Cup finals, Russia have really laid down a marker over the past 18 months and have proven a stern test for many across the continent. While they might have seen Belgium s superstars snatch top spot in Group I, Stanislav Cherchesov s men were last seen back in November picking up a 5-0 romp away at whipping boys San Marino and have now won eight of their last nine appearances. With that soul defeat coming in a 4-1 loss against the Red Devils on home soil, the Russians do have a real reputation for their free-scoring displays in the final third. Including back-to-back 4-0 and 5-0 victories against Scotland and Cyprus last year, they have also won five of their last six contests on home soil, a run that saw them pick up what now looks like an eye-catching 2-0 victory against fellow high-flyers Turkey. On the flip side, while Serbia might have managed to sign off their EURO 2021 qualifying campaign with a dramatic 2-2 draw against a resurging Ukraine, the Eagles could not manage to secure an automatic route out of Group B, despite their recent improvements. However, collecting 13 points over their final five contests and with a string of attacking talents such as Fulham ace Aleksandar Mitrović, we could be in for a lively contest on Thursday night. With four of Serbia s last five away matchups seeing both teams find the net, we re backing a similar outcome out in Russia this week.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 5/6
Our Thursday Nations League Accumulator:
Ukraine vs Switzerland Ukraine win @ 29/20
Turkey vs Hungary Turkey win and under 3.5 goals @ 23/20
Russia vs Serbia Both teams to score @ 5/6
Place a £10 bet on our accumulator with and pocket £96.57 if all predictions are correct.
