Familiar foes Serbia and Republic of Ireland face off Red Star Stadium

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Familiar foes Serbia and Republic of Ireland face off Red Star Stadium on Wednesday evening as both nations get their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign under way. The two countries were in the same group in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign and will both be looking to match their top-two finishes this time around.

These two nations meet again after Serbia took four points from the Republic of Ireland in 2018 World Cup Qualifying (WCQ), helping them to finish above this game’s visitors and deny Ireland a first World Cup appearance since 2002. However, with Serbia winning just one of their last 11 matches inside of 90 minutes (W1, D8, L2), the stage is set for some Irish revenge.

On home soil, the Serbs have been more shrewd. They’ve lost just two of their last ten home matches in standard time (W5, D3, L2), scoring first in six, and witnessing an average of 3.40 match goals per fixture. Yet despite winning 5-0 vs Russia in their last home outing, the ‘Eagles’ haven’t registered back-to-back home shutouts since October 2017!

Without a competitive win since June 2019, Ireland need a good start here considering their many on-field issues of late. Whilst the Irish have churned out six wins since WCQ 2018, the ‘Boys in Green’ have drawn 44.44% of their last 27 matches (W6, D12, L9 – 90 minutes), with just nine of those 27 witnessing both teams score.

Furthermore, aside from a 1-0 away win in Gibraltar, Ireland’s last win on foreign soil came in Wales back in October 2017 (1-0). However coincidentally, the Irish lost 1-0 in Wales last time away, which means Ireland have failed to score in six of their last seven away trips, and have conceded first for three straight away matches.

Date: 24/03/2021
Time: 22: 45
Venue: Stadion Rajko Mitić (Belgrade)
Pick for this match:
“1” – @ 1.70 ( 1Xbet )