Comments and predictions for Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria: Dramatic confrontation
The match between Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria in the Nations League takes place at 1:45 a.m. on October 16. Nghe An Newspaper compiles statistics, analyzes performance, makes football comments and predicts the score of this match.
Latest Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria team information
With goalkeepers Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Conor Hazard both absent through injury, Michael O'Neill handed 19-year-old Pierce Charles his debut over the weekend, and the Sheffield Wednesday stopper is likely to continue playing behind his brother Shea Charles, who is expected to start in midfield.
ADO Den Haag striker Lee Bonis also made his senior debut as a substitute and will compete with Callum Marshall and Jamie Reid for a starting spot up front. Jamie Reid is back in action after being ruled out of games last month with a blood clot.
Rising star Conor Bradley was handed the captain's armband against Belarus, and no Northern Ireland player has won more duels (23), had more touches in the opposition area (10), had more shots (eight) or been fouled more (seven) in the Nations League this season.
While the hosts are without two goalkeepers, Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev is Bulgaria's most notable absentee due to a serious knee injury.
So Valentin Antov, Georgi Kostadinov and Ivaylo Chochev will compete for two places in the visitors' central area, in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Up front, captain Kiril Despodov will support Aleksandar Kolev, although the latter is yet to score in nine caps. Despodov’s goal in the first leg was the 15th of his international career: the PAOK winger has scored both of Bulgaria’s last two Nations League goals, and in four of their six wins so far.
Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria latest expected lineup
Northern Ireland:
P. Charles; Hume, McNair, Toal; Bradley, Saville, S. Charles, Price, Lewis; Marshall, Reid
Bulgaria:
Mitov; Popov, Petkov, Atanasov, Nurnberger; Kostadinov, Chochev; Despodov, Krastev, Kirilov; Kolev
Latest Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria football commentary
Coming off a behind-closed-doors clash with Belarus on Saturday night, Northern Ireland were left disappointed as they failed to capitalise on their chances and secure a win that would have seen them move top of Group 3.
They eventually had to settle for a 0-0 draw, despite testing the goalkeeper with several shots in the first half and having two goals ruled out – once for offside, once for a foul.
That result leaves Northern Ireland with just two wins from 19 Nations League games so far – failing to score in eight – and currently third at the halfway point of the tournament.
However, Michael O'Neill's men could return to Belfast, where they have won both of their recent home games 2-0; victory over Bulgaria would see them make it three consecutive wins at Windsor Park for the first time since 2017.
After starting their latest Nations League campaign with a win over Luxembourg last month thanks to early goals from Paddy McNair and Dan Ballard, Northern Ireland's second game ended in a 1-0 defeat in Bulgaria.
This leaves them winless in six meetings with Tuesday's opponents, with five defeats and a draw since a win in May 1979.
Indeed, Bulgaria have kept clean sheets in each of their last three trips to Belfast, and they have recently built a solid defence against most opponents in 2024.
The Lions have been resolute defensively this year, conceding just two goals in seven games, and have yet to concede a goal in this Nations League campaign.
Bulgaria's last three games have produced just one goal in total – Kiril Despodov's strike in a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in September – and they could keep four consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 2007.
After a 0-0 home draw with bottom side Luxembourg on Saturday, Ilian Iliev's side are now level on five points with Belarus, with both teams vying for top spot next month for direct promotion.
That could also give them a shot at the 2026 World Cup: a play-off spot, should they fail to qualify.
With Iliev yet to lose a game since taking charge – although seven of his nine games have ended in draws – Bulgaria can be confident of moving closer to their goal with a win at Windsor Park. In a tight group with few goals and few wins, another draw is likely on Tuesday night, with Bulgaria proving difficult to beat.
Northern Ireland are showing signs of improvement, but without a sharp striker they may have to settle for a draw at home.
Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria score prediction
Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Northern Ireland vs Bulgariaas follows:
- Sportsmole:Northern Ireland 1-1 Bulgaria
- WhoScore:Northern Ireland 2-2 Bulgaria
- Our newspaper predicts:Northern Ireland 1-1 Bulgaria
When and where to watch Northern Ireland vs Bulgaria live?
To watch the live match between Northern Ireland and Bulgaria in the Nations League taking place at 1:45 a.m. on October 16, viewers can watch on TV360here, Mytv systemhereor on online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.