Norway vs Slovenia Prediction: Both teams to score is worth backing

| Wednesday 9th October 2024, 10:19am

Wednesday 9th October 2024, 10:19am

Norway and Slovenia have both enjoyed unbeaten starts in the Uefa Nations League with four points from their first two matches. Now the two square up against each other at the Ullevaal Stadium on Thursday (19:45), both looking to continue their good form in League B Group 3.

The hosts picked up an impressive win against Austria last time out, just days after being held to a 0-0 draw with Kazakhstan. Slovenia, on the other hand, comfortably beat Kazakstan and took a point from Austria. Read on for my Norway vs Slovenia prediction, including match odds and team news.

Norway vs Slovenia Betting Tips

Bet Builder - Erling Haaland and Benjamin Sesko to score anytime @ 5/1
Both teams to score @ 5/6

Norway vs Slovenia Odds

Norway are 4/7, or a 63.6% chance, to win this match. Slovenia are valued at 5/1 to take the three points, giving them an implied probability of 16.7%. The draw is available at 3/1 (25%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 5/6 and over 2.5 goals can be backed at 4/5.

Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko is the leading marksman in the Nations League so far with four goals to his name already, including a hat-trick against Kazakhstan. He is 8/1 to open the scoring, or 13/5 to find the back of the net at any stage during this contest.

Erling Haaland was on the scoresheet for Norway against Austria and he has scored 10 goals already for Manchester City in the Premier League in 2024/25. He is 5/6 to score anytime, or 5/2 to open proceedings.

Fellow forward Jorgen Strand Larsen has scored twice in the English top-flight for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is priced at 2/1 to score at any point during this match.

Football Odds

Team News

Norway remain without the services of their captain and influential midfielder Martin Odegaard, who picked up an ankle while on international duty last month. Manager Stale Solbakken has said that the Arsenal man is a "long way" from being available for selection.

In Odegaard's absence, Haaland will wear the captain's armband. The striker's Man City teammate Oscar Bobb remains out of action with a leg fracture, so he will not be able to return to the national team until at least March next year, with it hoped that he will be able to return to club duty in December.

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson should keep his spot at right-back after a solid start to the Bundesliga this term, with the defender contributing a goal and an assist in his first six appearances.

Midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt will be looking for an opportunity to start against Slovenia, having scored four goals in seven Serie B outings for Sassuolo this term. Solbakken could be tempted to give the 25-year-old a go in the middle of the park alongside Fulham's Sander Berge.

For Slovenia, forward Sesko has been on fire in the Nations League so far, and he has also been enjoying himself in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old has two goals and two assists in six matches. He will want to increase those figures when club action resumes, but he will want another confidence boost on the international stage.

Bet Builder - Erling Haaland and Benjamin Sesko to score anytime @ 5/1

This is a tasty price for two excellent goalscorers to find the back of the net in this fixture, and I think it is worth backing. Haaland has been on fire in the Premier League this season with two hat-tricks and one brace.

The Man City man has blanked in his last two league outings, however, and it has to be wondered if this correlates to the season-ending injury picked up by key midfielder Rodri.

Haaland will want to get his confidence back up over this international break, and he will look lead from the front with the captain's armband. Norway will find it difficult without Odegaard but they still have the best goalscorer on the planet available.

After scoring the winning goal against Austria last time out, Haaland will be raring to go again in the Nations League as his team have a chance to move three points clear at the top of the group table. I think the Slovenian back line are going to be in for a very tough evening in trying to keep him quiet.

The same goes for Norway's with Sesko. This game has entertainment value in just the strikers alone, and this game looks to be a contest between these two excellent players.

As the leading marksman in this competition, I have no doubt that there will be plenty of chances coming the Slovenian's way on Thursday, and with the quality he possesses, I am confident he will put at least one of them away.

Both teams to score @ 5/6

With that in mind, I think both teams to score is also worth backing in this contest. These two talents can make this game all about them and their goals - it could simply come down to which of the two of them will outscore the other.

It's also worth noting that both teams to score has been a winning selection once for both of these teams in the Nations League so far, and both came against Austria. Norway have seen this market land in five of their last seven in all competitions, while goals have flown in at both ends in four of Slovenia's last seven across all competitions.

Both sides have a trend of being involved in matches where both teams are scoring, and I can see this continuing on Thursday evening.

Norway vs Slovenia - Both Teams To Score Yes

5/6

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Odds correct at time of publishing.

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