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Ireland will look to keep their hopes of earning promotion from Nations League B alive when they faces hosts Austria at on Saturday at Raiffeisen Arena.
The hosts lead the four-team group with eight points with six left to play for, while the visitors are third with five points, though they are level on points with second-placed Kosovo in the promotion playoff spot.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Austria vs Ireland key stats
- Both teams have scored in five of Austria's last six games.
- Troy Parrott has scored four goals in his last three matches for Ireland.
- Ireland have scored at least two goals in three of their past five matches.
Austria vs Ireland preview: Chance to get in the promotion fight?
Austria vs Ireland — Tale of the Tape
| Austria | vs | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 3rd |
| 8 | Points | 5 |
| 9 | Goals For | 6 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 1st | Home / Away Rank | 1st |
Austria come into the clash on the back of a 1-1 stalemate with Kosovo on October 4, their latest Nations League result, and they now only need to win on Saturday to guarantee promotion to Nations League A.
While a win on the weekend may only leave them three points ahead of second-placed Kosovo with one game left to play, they already boast head-to-head superiority having beaten their promotion rivals earler in the group stage.
Manager Ralf Rangnick has overseen a positive period, with the hosts having won two and drawn two of their last four games in all competitions.
Austria know they will be without Marco Grull and Patrick Wimmer, with the former pulling out of the squad due to injury and the latter not selected, and their absences could lead to a start for Raul Florucz on the right side of the frontline.
Ireland are level on points with Kosovo but are not in the second-placed promotion playoff spot due to a worse head-to-head record, though that could change on matchday six of the group stage.
A loss on the weekend would make automatic progression in first impossible, and while there would still be a chance of securing first place with a draw, that would require Austria to lose against Israel in gameday six.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson helped guide his side to a 2-2 stalemate with Saturday's hosts on October 1, and that extended their unbeaten streak against Austria to three games (W1, D2, L0).
Ireland will likely have to rely on the threat of Troy Parrott up front, as well as the heroics of shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher, if they are to claim three points.
Austria vs Ireland preview form guide & betting tips
| Austria | vs | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
WWDD |
Form | LWDD |
| 8 | Points | 5 |
| N/A | Form Table | N/A |
| 9 | Goals For | 6 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 4 |
LWWDD |
Form (All Comps) | DLWDD |
Whispers predicts: Austria 2-2 Ireland
Though the bookmakers have priced an Austria win favourably at 4/7 (1.57), a draw at 29/10 (3.9) could be great value for betters.
Considering both teams have scored in five of Austria's last six games, a strong starting bet would be Both Teams to Score at 5/6 (1.83).
Ireland striker Troy Parrott has scored four goals in his last three matches for Ireland, so there could be value in predicting Troy Parrott to Score at 12/5 (3.4).
The visitors have scored at least two goals in three of their past five matches, and that could make betting Over 1.5 Goals for Ireland at 29/10 (3.9) the way to go.
> Both Teams to Score at 5/6 (1.83) | Likelihood: Probable
> Troy Parrott to Score at 12/5 (3.4) | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 1.5 Goals for Ireland at 29/10 (3.9) | Likelihood: Possible