Austria vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Prediction: Top-of-the-table tensions to spill over in Vienna

It's a straight shootout between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina for first place in Group H of Uefa's World Cup qualification campaign. Austria are in the driving seat heading into Tuesday's showdown clash in Vienna (19:45) as they are top, two points clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina, who need to win at the Ernst Happel Stadium to leapfrog their opponents and avoid the play-offs.

Below are my Austria vs Bosnia-Herzegovina predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick could name an unchanged starting XI following Saturday's 2-0 win in Cyprus. Marko Arnautovic bagged a brace in Limassol and looks set to lead the line again on Tuesday.

Football Odds

Nikola Katic, Amar Dedic and Dzenis Burnic all started Bosnia-Herzegovina's Saturday's 3-1 victory over Romania, but all three picked up yellows in Zenica and are now suspended for Tuesday's trip to Vienna.

The trio could be replaced in the starting XI by Dennis Hadzikadunic, Sead Kolasinac and Ivan Basic.

Austria vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Odds

Austria have won all three of their home games in Group H and are 1/3 to make it four wins from four on Tuesday, implying a 75% probability of success, while Bosnia-Herzegovina are 17/2, or a 10.5% chance, to record their third away victory of the campaign, with the draw priced at 4/1.

Betfred are offering a couple of Price Boosts on this game, including Edin Dzeko To Score The First Goal at 12/1 (was 10/1).

Booking Points Over/Under +52.5 - Over 52.5 @ 13/8

September's reverse fixture in Zenica saw 75 booking points awarded, with Austria responsible for 50. Marcel Sabitzer and Phillipp Mwene were both booked for Das Team, who also saw Patrick Wimmer sent off for two yellows. Meanwhile, Nihad Mujakic and Katic were both cautioned for Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Austria have been involved in a couple of other card-heavy contests, with five (50 booking points) issued in their 1-0 victory over Cyprus on September 6, and six (60 booking points) dished out in their 1-0 loss to Romania on October 12.

Today's Football Fixtures

Bosnia-Herzegovina, meanwhile, have seen six of their seven qualifiers finish with 60+ booking points, including Saturday's 3-1 victory over Romania in Zenica, where seven yellows and one red were handed out (95 booking points).

Given what's on the line this Tuesday, I expect more cards to come out of the referee's pocket here.

Player to Receive a Card - Christoph Baumgartner (AUT) @ 3/1

Only Hoffenheim duo Bernardo (23) and Wouter Burger (20) have committed more fouls in this season's Bundesliga than RB Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner (18), who is averaging 2.1 fouls per 90 minutes.

The 26-year-old, who was booked five times in the competition last season, has picked up three yellows in 10 league appearances this term.

Baumgartner's four cautions for club and country this season have come in his last eight outings. The second of those was for Austria in their 1-0 loss to Romania in Bucharest on October 12.

The former Hoffenheim man committed two fouls in Saturday's 2-0 win in Cyprus, and in September's reverse fixture with Bosnia-Herzegovina, he was whistled three times for upending an opponent.

At 3/1, he looks good value to go into the book on Tuesday.