Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
A month ago, both Latvia and North Macedonia found themselves unable to capitalise fully on their group matches, despite North Macedonia leading the standings. In Riga, the visitors will need to shine offensively once again, and given the defensive instability of the Latvian side, they are likely to net a couple of goals.
Latvia
On their trip to Armenia (1:4), Latvia conceded three goals by the start of the second half. Over 90 minutes in Yerevan, the Baltic side faced 1.49 xGA and were outshot 3-17. Perhaps the coaching staff learned a valuable lesson from that setback, as the team looked more assured against the Faroe Islands (1:0), although the group's underdogs still managed an xG of 1.31.
North Macedonia
Interestingly, North Macedonia couldn't achieve their goal against the Faroe Islands (1:1) despite an aggressive approach (2.15 xG and 17 shots in 90 minutes). Following the frustrating draw, the coaching staff stuck to their game plan: with Elif Elmas, Enis Bardhi, and Bojan Miovski, they confidently overcame Armenia (2:0), even playing a whole half with a man down. Darko Churlinov is returning to the squad after injury and will be a key option for the starting lineup.
Latvia vs North Macedonia Prediction
On Thursday, Latvia will attempt to close down North Macedonia's key players by employing a five-man backline. However, this strategy is likely to be within the capabilities of the visitors, who are expected to score two to three goals in Riga.
