Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
Following the September fixtures in the Nations League, both Estonia and Azerbaijan find themselves trailing far behind Sweden and Slovakia, who are competing for promotion. These underdogs aim to secure third place in their head-to-head encounter to avoid relegation to a lower division.
Estonia
Last month, against Slovakia (0:1) and Sweden (0:3), the Estonian side failed to score, generating just 0.70 xG with three shots on target over 180 minutes. Playing with a 4-4-1-1 formation against less star-studded Slovakia, the Baltic team couldn't prevent dangerous opportunities in their penalty area. For the upcoming challenge, they are relying heavily on the form of Real Valladolid goalkeeper Matvei Igonen—their most renowned player.
Azerbaijan
In September, Azerbaijan conceded even more goals than Estonia (5 compared to 4), but they did display some attacking prowess. Against Sweden (1:3), Ramil Sheydayev missed a penalty just before halftime—a moment where the underdog could have entered the break with the lead (creating 2.96 xG in that match). However, the Azerbaijani side managed only three shots on target in 90 minutes against Slovakia.
Estonia vs Azerbaijan Prediction
Last year, Azerbaijan and Estonia played two low-scoring matches in the Euro 2024 qualifiers (1:1 and 2:0). The upcoming encounter in Tallinn is likely to once again disappoint neutral fans with a lack of attacking flair.
