Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
Kazakhstan's disastrous start in the Nations League has almost eliminated their chances of staying in League B. Austria, on the other hand, are aiming for the elite division; following their emphatic win against Norway (5:1), they have gained the confidence needed to steamroll the group's underdog.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's alarming results in 2024 have extended their winless streak to eight matches, seven of which were losses. They have yet to score a goal in the Nations League. A month ago in Linz, Austria gained a significant advantage after the break, with a final xG difference of 0.14-3.06 indicating a stark class discrepancy (0:4).
Austria
The win over Kazakhstan seemed to give Austria an extra boost before facing Norway. Of course, the absence of Martin Ødegaard affected the opposition, but the team effectively contained Erling Haaland—the Manchester City star had very few opportunities against Austria. Against the Scandinavians, Austria were far more threatening (10-1 in shots on target) and maximised their expected goals (2.28-0.80 in xG).
Kazakhstan vs Austria Prediction
Ralf Rangnick is expected to maintain his winning lineup for the November matches—Austria will create numerous chances in Kazakhstan. It's clear the hosts will lack motivation for the upcoming national challenge.
