Iceland face huge task of overturning the first leg deficit as they host Kosovo at a neutral venue in the second leg of the Nations League B/C playoffs.
This match on Sunday at Estadio Enrique Roca de Murcia comes with our prediction of Kosovo avoiding defeat. The winner of this tie will play in League B of the next Nations League cycle, while the loser will be in League C.
The first leg on Thursday saw Kosovo win 2-1 with goals in the 19th and 58th minutes, while Iceland scored a consolation in the 22nd minute. The tie is still in the balance, but Iceland need to win to at least take the match into extra time or further into penalties.
Iceland won just one of their six recent matches, losing four and drawing one, all in the Nations League. As they host at a neutral venue due to stadium construction, the challenge only gets bigger, as Iceland have historically lost six of ten Nations League home games.
That gives Kosovo a chance to earn promotion to League B, coming here with five wins from the last six games. The Dardanians have won two of their last three away matches in this competition as well and will quietly feel confident of their chances.
In the first-leg of this UEFA Nations League League B/C promotion/relegation playoff, Kosovo managed to defeat Iceland by two goals to one at Pristina City Stadium in the Kosovan capital thanks to goals from Lumbardh Dellova and Elvis Rexhbecaj.
Iceland, who rose to prominence with their UEFA EURO 2016 run and 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, have some new talents coming through such as Real Sociedad striker Orri Oskarsson, who scored in that defeat to Kosovo, as well as the likes of Lille midfielder Hakan Haraldsson and Fiorentina’s Albert Gudmundsson.
However, their loss the other day would suggest a naivety that a more experienced Kosovan side with its own fairly high levels of pedigree and tactical nous could expose. The Kosovans’ squad boasts the likes of Arijanet Muric, Mergim Vojvoda, Amir Rrahmani, Valon Berisha, Milot Rashica and Real Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi.
Iceland will believe they can put the pressure on up in Reykjavik and that could lead to quite an entertaining encounter, especially with Kosovo’s ability and personnel on the counter-attack.
