Nations League: Tips for Friday's big games as groups set to be decided

Friday's Nations League slate doesn't end with England's game against Italy as four other notable fixtures go ahead in the group stages. Greg Lea fills you in.

Bulgaria v Gibraltar

Kick-off: 7.45pm Friday

Gibraltar earned promotion from League D in the last campaign but are in danger of an immediate return. The teams that finish bottom of League C groups will take part in the relegation play-offs, in which defeat over two legs results in demotion.

Gibraltar are two points behind third-placed Bulgaria and would climb above them with a win, but that is a longshot. Mladen Krstajic’s side scored just once in their away fixture but this is a game in which they should be able to boost their ‘goals for’ column. Gibraltar lost 4-0 in Georgia on matchday one, and a similar outcome is a distinct possibility here.

Selection: Bulgaria and over 3.5 goals @ 1.94

Germany v Hungary

Kick-off: 7.45pm Friday

Aided by two victories over England, including a stunning 4-0 triumph at Molineux last time out, Hungary are the surprise leaders of Group A3 with two games left to play. A win against Germany would secure their place in the Nations League Finals next summer, but Die Mannschaft know that collecting all three points on Friday would put them in pole position to qualify.

Hungary should not be written off, though. They held Germany to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, while the two teams also shared the spoils at Euro 2020. Hungary have scored in all four of their group games to date, so backing both teams to find the back of the net would be an astute choice.

Selection: Both teams to score @ 2.22

Finland v Romania

Kick-off: 7.45pm Friday

This is not quite a play-off to avoid relegation to League C, but it is the closest possible thing. Romania’s fate will be sealed if they fall to defeat, but a draw or away win would keep the issue alive until next week’s final round of fixtures.

Finland lost 1-0 in Bucharest in June, a poor result given Romania’s struggles elsewhere. Edward Iordanescu’s team have lost each of their other three matches without even scoring a goal, which has left them in a precarious position ahead of Friday’s trip to Helsinki.

Finland are unbeaten at home in this Nations League campaign and they should have the quality to pick up a win in this one and secure safety.

Selection: Finland to win @ 2.28

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro

Kick-off: 7.45pm Friday

At the other end of Group B3 is a two-way tussle for top spot. Bosnia-Herzegovina have a one-point advantage over Montenegro with six points still to play for, and a win on Friday would guarantee promotion to League A. It will be interesting to see whether Montenegro go all out for victory or are content to pick up a point in the hope that they will climb above Bosnia on the final day.

Backed by the crowd in Zenica, the hosts will probably look to make a quick start in order to dent Montenegro’s confidence. They scored twice before half-time in a 3-2 victory over Finland last time out and will adopt a similar front-foot approach here.

Selection: Bosnia-Herzegovina to win first half @ 2.32

Recommended trades

Bulgaria v Gibraltar: Bulgaria and over 3.5 goals @ 1.94
Germany v Hungary: Both teams to score @ 2.22
Finland v Romania: Finland to win @ 2.28
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro: Bosnia-Herzegovina to win first half @ 2.32