March 20, 2025
3 Minute Read
Bulgaria v Ireland Playoff Preview & Betting Tips
The fight for a spot in UEFA Nations League Group B sees Bulgaria host the Republic of Ireland in the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday, March 20. Both sides have struggled with inconsistency, making this a crucial encounter where momentum could prove decisive.
Bulgaria & Ireland Seeking Stability
Neither team comes into this fixture with much confidence. Ireland has shown flashes of resilience, defeating Finland twice in the group stage, but also suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to England in their last outing.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, hasn’t fared much better. A 1-1 draw with Belarus last time out followed a crushing 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland. They secured second place in League C but failed to impress, finishing above Belarus and Luxembourg in what was hardly a daunting group.
With both teams looking to steady the ship, this first leg promises to be a tense affair.
How We See It: Ireland Slight Favourites
Despite Ireland’s struggles, they have faced much tougher competition than Bulgaria. England and Greece posed significant challenges in their group, while Bulgaria played against weaker opposition.
As a result, Ireland are 2.45 to secure an away win, while Bulgaria is priced at 3.30 to take advantage at home. A draw is valued at 2.90, reflecting how tight this contest is expected to be.
Head-to-Head Record: History Favors Stalemates
Meetings between these two have been rare in recent years, with their last competitive clashes coming in the 2020 Nations League. Both games ended in 0-0 and 1-1 draws.
The most recent of those saw Ireland snatch a dramatic equalizer, with Shane Duffy scoring in the 93rd minute. Their only other encounter in the past decade came in 2019, when Ireland claimed a 3-1 victory.
Players to Watch: Can Ferguson Step Up?
🔹 Evan Ferguson (Ireland)
It has been a frustrating season for Ferguson, who has struggled for minutes and goals. The Brighton loanee has managed just one goal in 18 Premier League appearances and has yet to make an impact since moving to West Ham.
However, for Ireland, he remains their key attacking outlet. He scored the winner against Finland in their last victory, and with Ireland struggling for firepower, he’ll need to step up again.
🔹 Ilia Gruev (Bulgaria)
Leeds midfielder Ilia Gruev has returned to the Bulgaria squad and will be crucial in midfield, dictating play and helping his team maintain defensive shape against a physical Irish side.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Bulgaria: Mitov; Popov, Petkov, Petrov, Nurnberger; Gruev, Panayotov, Milanov; Petkov, Kirilov, Nikolov.
📋 Ireland: Kelleher; O’Shea, O’Brien, Collins, O’Dowda; Cullen, Knight, Johnston; Azaz, Vata, Ferguson.
Betting Insights: Where’s the Value?
With both teams struggling for goals, this could be a low-scoring affair.
- Both teams to score – NO (1.67): Neither side has been prolific, having scored just three goals each in their last five matches.
- Under 1.5 goals (2.50): Given the lack of attacking quality on display, this looks a solid pick.
- Correct Score 0-0 (6.25): With Bulgaria often difficult to break down and Ireland lacking a serious attacking output, a goalless draw offers value.
Final Thoughts
With a second leg to follow in Dublin, neither side will want to take too many risks in this first meeting. Ireland’s experience against tougher opposition gives them a slight edge, but Bulgaria will be determined to make home advantage count.
Expect a tight, scrappy game where defences come out on top.
Bulgaria v Ireland Betting Tips & Predictions
✅ Both teams to score – NO @ 1.67
✅ Under 1.5 goals @ 2.50
✅ Ireland to win @ 2.45
This UEFA Nations League playoff match kicks off at 19:45 UTC on Thursday, March 20. Stay tuned for more expert betting previews and predictions.
Odds are correct at time of writing
