League A Group 1 of the Women's Euro 2025 qualifiers is finely poised heading into matchday five, the penultimate round of fixtures to decide which teams will make it to Switzerland next summer.
We're bringing you our predictions for Friday's clash between the two Scandinavian teams in the group, Finland and Norway.
One point separates the two nations heading into Friday's clash where we're expecting a close and competitive 90 minutes.
Contents
Finland vs Norway Women prediction: Possible stalemate on the cards?
Key Stats
- Both Finland and Norway have only won one of their opening four Eruo 2025 Qualifiers.
- The one and only time Finland hosted Norway before, in 2006, ended in a stalemate.
- Caroline Graham Hansen has 46 goals in 107 caps for Norway and scored 21 goals in 25 league games for Barcelona last season.
Correct score prediction: Finland 1-1 Norway
Norway have never lost against Finland before but the only time the Fins have had the home advantage, the game ended in a draw. Under 2.5 goals have been produced in four of the hosts' last six outings as well as in each of Norway's last three fixtures.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Odds not yet available
- HOME: N/A
- DRAW: N/A
- AWAY: N/A
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Last five H2Hs: Norway dominate
The last five encounters between these two nations have produced four wins for Norway and one draw with the pair last locking horns in April where the home side Norway claimed a 4-0 victory.
Womens Euro Championships Qual 05/04/24
Norway Women
Finland Women
Womenu2015s International 29/05/15
Norway Women
Finland Women
Finland preview: Tough to beat in their own backyard
Finland moved onto four points in League A Group 1 thanks to a 1-1 draw at home against the group leaders the Netherlands.
The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute and the game appeared to be slipping away from Finland until Leicester City's Jutta Rantala equalised in the 77th minute.
Finland are unbeaten at home in qualifying having won against Italy and drawn with the Netherlands so Marko Saloranta's side will be confident about their chances of avoiding defeat against Norway this week.
Predicted lineup: Korpela (GK), Koivisto, Kuikka, Nyström, Tynnilä, Hartikainen, Öling, Summanen, Siren, Sällström & Rantala
Womens Euro Championships Qual 16/07/24
L
Italy Women
4
Finland Women
0
Womens Euro Championships Qual 12/07/24
D
Norway Women
1
Finland Women
1
Womens Euro Championships Qual 04/06/24
D
Netherlands Women
1
Finland Women
1
Womens Euro Championships Qual 31/05/24
L
Netherlands Women
1
Finland Women
0
Womens Euro Championships Qual 09/04/24
W
Italy Women
1
Finland Women
2
Norway preview: Drawn last two qualifiers
Norway faced Italy for the second time in the space of a week in early June after the pair had played out a goalless draw in Norway.
The hosts Italy took the lead after just five minutes and looked like they were going to hold on to all three points until substitute Frida Maanum levelled for Norway with nine minutes left on the clock, making it back-to-back stalemates between the two countries.
That result leaves Norway sitting second in the group level with Italy on five points but ahead via goal difference. Gemma Grainger will be looking for another big performance from her players on Friday, similar to the one that earned Norway a comfortable 4-0 victory against Finland back in April.
Predicted lineup: Fiskerstrand (GK), Þórisdóttir, Bergsvand, Hansen, Harviken, Reiten, Bøe Risa, Engen, Graham Hansen, Sævik & Terland
Womens Euro Championships Qual 16/07/24
D
Netherlands Women
1
Norway Women
1
Womens Euro Championships Qual 12/07/24
D
Finland Women
1
Norway Women
1
Womens Euro Championships Qual 04/06/24
D
Italy Women
1
Norway Women
1
Womens Euro Championships Qual 31/05/24
D
Italy Women
0
Norway Women
0
Womens Euro Championships Qual 09/04/24
L
Netherlands Women
1
Norway Women
0
Player to watch – Caroline Graham Hansen
Barcelona and Norway forward Caroline Graham Hansen has just had the best season of her career in terms of goals and we're backing the 29-year-old to continue that great form against Finland on Friday.
With 21 goals in 25 league games for her club, Graham Hansen blitzed her best goal return by some distance having only reached double figures once before in her long career which has spanned four different European countries.
The Barcelona forward has just enjoyed her most fruitful campaign
We can see Graham Hansen adding to her 46 international goals against Finland this week in what should be a close and competitive Euro 2025 qualifier.
