Kosovo vs Sweden Prediction: Swedes can get it right at second attempt

Kosovo and Sweden will both be hoping to secure their first World Cup qualifying win at the second attempt when they meet in Pristina on Monday night (19:45 BST). The Swedes went much closer of the pair to getting three points in their Group B opener on Friday, when they were denied victory by a last-minute equaliser by Slovenia in a 2-2 draw.

In contrast, the confidence that Kosovo had built up when earning promotion in the Nations League in March will have evaporated after they began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 defeat in Switzerland. Below are my Kosovo vs Sweden predictions for this qualifier at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri.

Team News

Kosovo could be without defender Amir Rrahmani, who was forced off against Switzerland. Ilir Krasniqi may start in his place. Milot Rashica is not with the squad due to a muscle injury.

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

Sweden striker Alexander Isak is not likely to start due to fitness concerns after the transfer wrangle of his move from Newcastle to Liverpool. Defender Gustaf Lagerbielke is out due to injury.

Kosovo vs Sweden Odds

Kosovo are 7/2 underdogs at home, with Sweden the 4/5 favourites and the draw priced at 11/4.

It's 4/5 that there will be over 2.5 goals in the game and 1/1 for under 2.5, while it's 4/5 that both teams score in the game and 1/1 for at least one side to fail to find the net.

Sweden to win & over 2.5 goals @ 13/8

Sweden chiefly had themselves to blame for failing to make a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. Slovenia's first equaliser was a long-range shot that slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Robin Olsen, and then they conceded a late equaliser to Zan Vipotnik when they looked set to win 2-1.

The Swedes had been the better side for the majority of the contest and should be able to make amends against a Kosovo side that were thumped 4-0 in Switzerland.

The Kosovans had been going really well, earning promotion to League B of the Nations League with a 5-2 aggregate win over Iceland in March, but their defence remains hard to trust and they picked up another defensive injury against the Swiss.

Both teams' opening games featured four goals, and there is a strong case for at least three in this match, with 10 of Kosovo's last 11 games producing over 2.5 goals.

Viktor Gyokeres anytime goalscorer @ 1/1

Sweden are unlikely to unleash their full attacking potential with Isak set to be among the substitutes after his interrupted preparations for the new season, but a Premier League pairing of Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga should still be more than strong enough against a susceptible Kosovo defence.

The Arsenal striker showed he can be ruthless against weaker opponents when scoring four times in a 6-0 Nations League win over Azerbaijan in November, and he is worth backing to get on the scoresheet in Pristina.

Offers

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