Things are looking quite good for Northern Ireland in the Nations League. The Ulstermen are top of Group 3 in League C, two points ahead of Bulgaria and face bottom-of-the-table Luxembourg on Monday night.
Football tipster Shane O’Brien has four picks for Monday night’s match, so let’s get into his Luxembourg v Northern Ireland betting tips.
Luxembourg v Northern Ireland Bet Builder tips
Both teams to score, no
Northern Ireland to win
Under 2.5 goals
Dan Ballard anytime goalscorer
- A bet builder with these bets pays at approximately 41/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WHEN: Monday, 18th of November, 7:45pm
WHERE:Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
TV: Viaplay on YouTube
Both teams to score, no
A point will be good enough to secure Northern Ireland automatic qualification to League B of the Nations League after Friday night’s 2-0 win over Belarus.
All the evidence suggests that Monday’s trip to Luxembourg will be a low-scoring affair.
Luxembourg, already condemned to a relegation play-off place, have scored just one goal in five Nations League games to date and no goals in either of their two home games in Group C3 so far.
Northern Ireland, on the other hand, have not scored in either of their away games so far in the Nations League and have kept four clean sheets in five games to date in the competition. The likelihood of both sides breaking their respective home and away scoring ducks on Monday night is fairly low, and both teams not to score seems to be the safest bet.
Northern Ireland to win, Under 2.5 goals
Each of Luxembourg’s two home games to date have ended in 1-0 defeats, with Bulgaria winning there on Friday night courtesy of Andrian Kraev’s 23rd-minute effort.
Meanwhile, all five of Luxembourg’s games in the Nations League this season have seen two goals or fewer, including a 2-0 defeat at Windsor Park back in September.
All of the signs point towards Monday’s final group game following a similar pattern. Four of Northern Ireland’s five games have also seen four games or fewer, with their 5-0 win over Bulgaria last month proving the one anomaly.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Northern Ireland will follow Bulgaria and Belarus by securing a 1-0 win in Luxembourg.
Even if Northern Ireland don’t exactly mimic those 1-0 scorelines, there is nothing to suggest that this will be a goalfest. Michael O’Neill’s side should also have enough to secure a win that will guarantee promotion to League B.
Dan Ballard anytime goalscorer
Dan Ballard has turned into an unlikely goalscoring source for Northern Ireland in 2024.
The Sunderland centre-half has scored a goal every other game for Northern Ireland this year, opening the scoring in their recent 2-0 win over Belarus with a close-range header from a corner kick.
Ballard also scored in the reverse fixture against Luxembourg, again proving dangerous from a set piece.
Northern Ireland do not possess an out-and-out goalscorer and are often forced to rely on unlikely sources. Conor Bradley stepped up earlier in the year, and Isaac Price stepped up against Bulgaria with a hat trick.
It is, therefore, not beyond the realms of possibility that Ballard will make it two goals in two games on Monday night, and he is excellent value to do so.
Luxembourg v Northern Ireland betting tips
Both teams to score, no
Northern Ireland to win
Under 2.5 goals
Dan Ballard anytime goalscorer
- A bet builder with these bets pays at approximately 41/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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