Bulgaria vs Republic of Ireland predictions: Hosts look good value for home win
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- Bulgaria finished second in Group C3 behind Northern Ireland
- Republic of Ireland finished third in Group B2
- Recommended bet: Bulgaria to win
A place in Nations League Group B is up for grabs on Thursday when Bulgaria host the Republic of Ireland in Plovdiv in the first-leg of their play-off tie.
Bulgaria finished second in Group C3, but they could only win two of their six matches in the competition.
The Republic of Ireland were also only able to win twice in Group B2, but four defeats has put the Boys in Green under immense pressure and they will drop down into League C if they fail to come through this two-legged affair.
Team News
Bulgaria coach Ilian Iliev has built his team's recent success on togetherness and he has no major injury concerns ahead of kick-off.
He offered his resignation earlier this month after Bulgaria's biggest clubs questioned his impartiality, but the Bulgarian FA rejected that and he will hope to get his team focused on the task at hand.
Republic of Ireland boss, Heimir Hallgrimsson, has called up Andrew Moran and Ryan Manning after Will Smallbone and Callum O'Dowda were ruled out through injury.
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The stats
Bulgaria have only won one of their last four in the Nations League but they were unbeaten in their three home matches during the competition's group phase, conceding only one goal.
The hosts have only lost one of their last 12 games in all competitions and Illiev's team are certainly trending in the right direction.
The Republic of Ireland have struggled on the road, with four of their last five away matches seeing them lose without troubling the scoresheet.
Goals have been an issue for Hallgrimsson's team, with the visitors only scoring three goals in their six games in Group B2.
Prediction
The Republic of Ireland have failed to score in five of their last seven away games and it is tough to see that record improving this week.
Hallgrimsson has his work cut out to change his team's fortunes, and it is far from ideal that Evan Ferguson has yet to break into West Ham's first team after his loan move from Brighton.
Ferguson is Ireland's leading striker and it is a big ask for the youngster to lead the line without much match practice.
Bulgaria have been tough to beat under Illiev and they will look to rally around their coach as they aim for promotion to League B. A low-scoring game is expected, but the hosts should be able to grab an important win ahead of the second leg.
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