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Bulgaria will head to the Stadionul Zimbru on Friday to take on Moldova in an international friendly.
Having both failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, the two nations face just a pair of friendlies each over the summer before returning to UEFA Nations League action in September.
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.
Moldova vs. Bulgaria key stats
- Moldova are winless in their last 13 games dating back to November 2024.
- Moldova have conceded 29 goals in their last eight matches.
- Bulgaria have scored 13 goals in their last four matches.
Moldova vs. Bulgaria preview: Can Moldova pick up first victory since 2024?
| Moldova | vs | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
| 159 | FIFA Ranking | 86 |
| Vitalie Damascan (46) | Most Caps | Martin Minchev (30) |
| Vitalie Damascan (5) | Most Goals | Marin Petkov (6) |
| 293 | Total Caps | 272 |
| 20 | Total Goals | 16 |
| 3 | Uncapped Players | 1 |
Moldova head into the summer for a pair of international friendlies with the aim of ending a long winless run dating back over two and a half years.
Their last victory came over Andorra in 2024, and they have since lost 11 of their last 13 matches, including an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifying bid in which they finished bottom of their European group on just one point from eight attempts.
That campaign culminated in consecutive defeats in November, before the Tricolorii kicked off 2026 with a pair of friendlies in March, losing 2-0 to Lithuania and 3-2 to Cyprus.
Lilian Popescu's side will now gear up for the beginning of a new UEFA Nations League bid in September with a somewhat inexperienced squad for their June friendlies, as notable absences include veteran defender Sergiu Platicu, key midfielder Mihail Caimacov and 63-capped Vadim Rata, while Ion Nicolaescu, who leads their all-time scoring charts on 18 international goals, has not turned out for his country since November due to a long-term injury.
On the back of a tough few years, Moldova will now compete for a fresh start with a positive pair of friendlies beginning with the hope of an elusive home victory on Friday.
Their opponents, meanwhile, make the trip aiming to get back to winning ways and continue an improved run of recent results, having last met Moldova over 30 years ago.
Like their hosts, Bulgaria also missed out on a spot in the summer's World Cup in European qualifying, failing to end a 28-year wait for a return to the world stage as they came bottom of their first-round group on three points from six matches.
That did culminate in a pleasing 2-1 win over Georgia last year, though, before they met Solomon Islands and Indonesia in the FIFA Series in March, dishing out a 10-2 beating to the former and winning 1-0 against the latter to make it three victories on the bounce.
The Lions then kicked off their June friendlies against Montenegro on Monday but fell just short in a 1-0 defeat, with star men Filip Krastev and Kiril Despodov, who boasts 15 international goal, not involved in the squad.
Now heading into their final game before beginning in the Nations League against Luxembourg and Estonia in September, Bulgaria will hope to pull off an away victory in Chisinau.
Moldova vs. Bulgaria form guide & betting tips
| Moldova | vs | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
DLLLL |
Form | LWWWL |
| 4 | Goals For | 13 |
| 12 | Goals Against | 5 |
LL |
Friendlies | L |
Whispers predicts: Moldova 1-3 Bulgaria
Bulgaria have won three of their last four games while Moldova have lost 11 of their last 13. We fancy Bulgaria to win, despite some of their notable absentees, at 11/10 (2.10).
Despite their poor run of results, Moldova have scored in five of their last seven games, while the visitors have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 matches. Both Teams to Score is priced at 1/1 (2.0).
The visitors have opened their account in the three victories of their last four games in the first half, and they meet a Moldova side who have managed a first-half clean sheet once in their last 12 attempts. We back Bulgaria to make a fast start and score in the first half at 11/10 (2.10).
> Bulgaria to win at 11/10 (2.10) | Likelihood: Possible
> Both Teams to Score at 1/1 (2.0) | Likelihood: Probable
> Bulgaria to score in the first half at 11/10 (2.10) | Likelihood: Possible