North Macedonia vs Kazakhstan Prediction: Hosts should grind out another vital victory

North Macedonia have been impressive in World Cup qualifying Group J and they are targeting another three points against Kazakhstan on Monday (kick-off 7.45pm).

Last week's 0-0 draw in Belgium kept North Macedonia on top of the group and they are favourites to beat Kazakhstan at the Todor Proeski National Arena in Skopje.

The visitors kept alive their slender hopes of qualifying for next summer's tournament by thrashing Liechtenstein 4-0 at home on Friday but they had lost 15 of their previous 18 internationals.

Team News

North Macedonia defender Bojan Dimoski pulled out of the squad before the trip to Belgium. Coach Blagoja Milevski used a 5-3-2 formation in Ghent but may be more expansive in his tactics on Monday.  

Kazakhstan's interim manager Talgat Baysufinov switched to a back four for the victory over Liechtenstein and is likely to name a similar starting line-up.

Winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek was outstanding in Friday's win, contributing two goals and an assist before he was substituted in the 62nd minute.

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

North Macedonia vs Kazakhstan Odds

North Macedonia are 1/3 to beat 10/1 shots Kazakhstan and the draw is priced at 18/5.

Kazakhstan have already lost 1-0 to Group J rivals North Macedonia and Wales and another 1-0 defeat can be backed at 4/1.

Under 0.5 first-half goals @ 2/1

North Macedonia had to dig deep for their goalless draw against Belgium last week as the Red Devils racked up 25 shots to their visitors' three.

Kazakhstan were just as dominant in their 4-0 rout of Liechtenstein, also winning the shot count by a 25-3 margin, but they face a very different test in Skopje.

While the Kazakhs have done the double over lowly Liechtenstein, they lost their other four group matches against North Macedonia, Wales (at home and away) and Belgium.

Manager Ali Aliyev resigned after the 6-0 drubbing by Belgium in September and his interim successor Talgat Baysufinov is likely to focus on keeping things tight in his second game in charge.

A goalless first half is a tempting bet as North Macedonia have done most of their best work in the second half of their qualifying matches.

They scored four of their five goals against Liechtenstein last month after the break and the exception was an early own goal.

And three of the four goals in North Macedonia's 1-1 draws at home to Wales and Belgium came in the 86th minute or later.

World Cup Odds

North Macedonia to win 2-0 @ 9/2

Kazakhstan's 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein was a rare triumph for a side who have lost 15 of their last 19 internationals.

They have failed to score in their last three defeats in Group J, against North Macedonia, Wales and Belgium, and it was a similar story during their 2024-25 Nations League campaign.

The Kazakhs drew 0-0 with Norway on matchday one, when none of their four shots were on target, before losing their next five games to nil.

North Macedonia are full of confidence after taking 12 points from their first six qualifiers so a 2-0 home win appeals in the correct score market.

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