Romania have made a terrible start to their UEFA Nations League (UNL) League B campaign and Gheorghe Hagi’s second spell in charge, and turning things around against unbeaten group leaders Sweden looks a tall order.
Match News and Current Form
Romania have found the step up to League B brutal, losing all three matches while conceding 12 times, with Friday’s 6-0 rout by Poland their heaviest defeat this decade. Propping up Group B4, they desperately need a response, otherwise they’ll be heading for the relegation play-offs, although at least they’ll have their supporters behind them here after their previous home game against Bosnia and Herzegovina (L 4-2) was played behind closed doors. The Tricolours will hope that can make a big difference as they have won the last four games they hosted with fans present, beating better-ranked Austria (1-0) and Wales (2-1) therein.
Sweden remain unbeaten and are two points clear at the top of the group following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina (W2, D1), a performance head coach Graham Potter described as “outstanding” given that a sickness bug swept through the camp in the build-up. The Blue and Yellow are now unbeaten in ten UNL matches (W7, D3), although their travelling form remains a concern as they’ve only won one of their last six away games (D2, L3). That victory came against Ukraine in neutral Spain, while injuries, illness and new additions to the squad could complicate their attempts to improve that record in Bucharest.
Head-to-Head History
Sweden have won the last three H2Hs after their win on matchday one, although Romania have won two of the last three meetings they hosted (L1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Four of Romania’s last five games saw at least two goals after half-time.
There were fewer than eight corners in five of Romania’s last six competitive home matches.
Sweden scored between the 55th and 70th minute in six of their last eight fixtures.
Sweden netted exactly once in three of their last four games played on foreign soil.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Daniel Bîrligea has scored in two of his last six appearances for Romania, and all three of his international goals arrived before the 30th minute. Viktor Gyökeres has completed Sweden’s scoring in all three of their UNL games in this campaign and his country are unbeaten across his last 12 goalscoring appearances (W10, D2).
Romania defenders Radu Drăgușin and Virgil Ghiță are suspended. Elliot Stroud and Patrik Wålemark have left Sweden’s camp due to illness, while Yasin Ayari and Benjamin Nygren sat out the Bosnia game.
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Betting Analysis
This seems like the ideal opportunity for the in-form visitors to claim a rare away triumph, so backing Sweden to win without conceding looks tempting.
Author: John Pennington