Cyprus vs Romania Prediction: Hosts can snatch a point

Romania and Cyprus are adrift of pacesetters Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria in Group H and both desperately need to find three points as they clash in Nicosia on Tuesday evening (19:45 BST).

Romania were 2-0 winners in the reverse contest in June but have lost to both of the group leaders already. The Cypriots took care of San Marino early on but have lost three times since, all away from home. They will aim to make up lost ground back on their own patch.

Below are my Cyprus vs Romania predictions, alongside all the latest team news and latest odds.

Team news

Cyprus handed an international debut to Brazil-born goalkeeper Fabio on Saturday in their defeat in Austria and he may well retain the gloves.

APOEL forward Pieros Sotiriou will be eager for game time, but may have to settle for a spot on the bench with Ioannis Pittas expected to get the nod up front.

Florin Tanase is Romania's top scorer in this campaign and could be recalled after missing the friendly loss against Canada.

Daniel Birligea's injury-enforced absence means Denis Dragus is likely to start.

Cyprus vs Romania odds

The hosts are outsiders are 5/1 to get their second victory of the qualifying campaign, with Romania favourites at 4/7 and the draw priced at 3/1.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 1/1, with both teams to score trading at 1/1. A repeat of Romania's 2-0 win in the reverse game is priced at 6/1.

Draw @ 3/1

Mircea Lucescu saw his Romania side suffer a 3-0 loss to Canada in a friendly on Friday, conceding two before the midpoint of the first half and another late on. The octogenarian boss will be hoping for a much stronger showing now.

They scored two goals in three minutes just before half-time to defeat Cyprus in Bucharest in June, Florin Tanase and Dennis Man on target.

That aside, they didn't create a host of chances. Cyprus only lost by a single goal to Austria on Saturday and were 2-1 losers in Bosnia in March after levelling in first-half stoppage time.

They lost home and away to Romania in the Nations League in 2024, though the fact they were both in League C emphasises there might not be a major gulf in class.

The home side could collect a point, an outcome that doesn't really suit either team.

Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/5

Only one of the four games Cyprus have played in this group has gone over 2.5 goals and they were solid defensively in the 1-0 loss in Linz on Saturday.

Aside from the win over minnows San Marino in March, Romania have only scored three times in three games in this group so far and they had just two shots on target against Canada in that friendly loss.

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