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Georgia vs Norway – Betting Preview

Georgia vs Norway – Betting Preview

With optimism of reaching a first-ever major tournament finals rising, Georgia welcome Norway to the Batumi Stadium for their opening Euro 2024 qualifying Group A battle on Tuesday.

The hosts thumped Mongolia 6-1 in a warm-up friendly on Saturday, while their Nordic counterparts fell to a 3-0 loss to Spain in their maiden Group A contest.

Georgia Preview

With the indomitable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia kept in reserve, a wealth of Georgia’s lesser-known stars stole the spotlight during the visit of Mongolia to Batumi, as Willy Sagnol’s side overwhelmed the world’s 183rd-ranked nation in a five-goal win.

Unexpectedly, Mongolia managed to hold Georgia at bay in the first half, but Sagnol’s team scored five goals in the next 45 minutes, including two for Slovan Bratislava star Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Georgia hasn’t advanced to the World Cup or European Championship finals as an independent country as of yet, but Sagnol has presided over a wonderful period of improvement over the past 12 months that culminated in promotion to League B in the Nations League.

Prior to that painful loss in Tbilisi, Georgia had gone unbeaten in four Euro qualifying games on home soil – keeping clean sheets in all four contests – but Norway could have counted themselves unfortunate not to have breached the Spanish rearguard last time out.

Norway Preview

With Erling Braut Haaland watching on from the medical bay after pulling out with a groin problem, Norway were left to rue the striker’s absence against France, who conceded several chances to Stale Solbakken’s side but left with their clean sheet intact!

Norway has attempted and failed to qualify for the continent’s top tournament five times since being eliminated in the group stage in 2000. As of right moment, Solbakken’s leaky crop has just one win in their previous five games across all competitions and has gone six games without a shutout.

Norway has defeated Georgia three times in a row across all competitions, however the two teams haven’t faced off since May 1999, when current Lions manager Solbakken led his team to a 1-0 victory in a Euro 2000 qualifying match.

1×2 Betting Odds

Let’s begin analysing the 1×2 market

While the vast majority of Georgia’s victories in 2022 came against teams that they would have expected to beat, Sagnol’s side should feel confident of getting their Euro 2024 qualifying bid off to a respectable start.

Yet, Georgia to win stands @ 3.99.

Norway held their own for long periods of their clash with Spain and were unlucky not to have breached the Roja backline, so we can picture a tightly-fought contest on the Batumi turf.

Norway are the favourites @ 2.16.

The market odds of a draw stands @ 3.46.

Total goals over/under

Let’s check the over/under scenario

The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 2.37.

While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 1.65.

The market expect this one to be a tight affair!