This Sunday, Georgia will face Bulgaria in a second-round match of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi. There are attractive odds for betting on this matchup.
Match Preview
Georgia began their qualifying journey with a 2-3 loss to Turkey but showed resilience by scoring twice in the second half after trailing by three goals. Coach Willy Sagnol’s team demonstrated their determination, coming close to leveling the match.
The team is showing progress, having reached the Euro 2024 playoffs and secured a win against Portugal. Key players Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze bring valuable experience, which will be critical in this game.
Bulgaria, on the other hand, suffered a 0-3 defeat to Spain in their opener, losing confidence by halftime. Defensive issues and a lack of creativity in attack have prompted coach Ilian Iliev to consider changes in the lineup.
Bulgaria last appeared in a major tournament final at Euro 2004. Gaining points in this match is crucial for their playoff ambitions, making the encounter in Tbilisi a significant test for Iliev’s plans.
Probable Lineups
- Georgia: Mamardashvili; Kakuabadze, Kashia, Goglichidze, Lochoshvili; Tsitaishvili, Kochkorashvili, Mekvabishvili, Davitashvili; Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
- Bulgaria: Vutsov; Nedyalkov, Dimitrov, Tesnov, Bozhinov; Gruev, Petkov; Minkov, Chochev, Kirilov; Despodov
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Georgia has won only two of their eight encounters with Bulgaria.
- Bulgaria has not won an official match since June 2023.
- Georgia qualified for the Euro 2024 playoffs and defeated Portugal in group play.
Prediction
Both teams seek points after challenging starts, but Georgia’s home advantage and offensive capabilities could be decisive. Our recommendation is a bet on “Georgia to win with a -1.0 handicap” at odds of 1.74.
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