MX23RW : Tuesday, December 24 03:34:50| >> :600:2723589:2723589:
[monks data]
Sweden national football team
Nations League | League C
Nov 19, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Friends Arena
Azerbaijan national football team

Sweden
6 - 0
Azerbaijan

Kulusevski (10', 57'), Gyokeres (26', 37', 58', 70')
Gudmundsson (60')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Krivotsyuk (23'), Seydiyev (54'), Diniyev (57'), Mustafazada (73'), Bayramov (88')

Preview: Sweden vs. Azerbaijan - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Nations League clash between Sweden and Azerbaijan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Having booked an immediate return to League B, Sweden can play their final UEFA Nations League group game stress-free, as they welcome Azerbaijan to Solna on Tuesday.

While the Blagult have already confirmed top spot, their Azeri counterparts are sure to finish last in League C Group 1 and are at risk of relegation.


Match preview

Ken Sema and Viktor Gyokeres of Sweden. October 11, 2024.© Imago

After dominating their third-tier opponents this season, Sweden confirmed promotion on Saturday evening, seeing off the challenge of second-placed Slovakia by winning 2-1 on home turf.

The Swedes' powerful front pair of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored again, with the latter bolstering his already glowing reputation by becoming the 2024-25 Nations League's joint-top scorer on five goals.

With such firepower to hand, it is no surprise that Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have sealed top spot with one game remaining, and they can afford to relax until World Cup qualifying kicks off next year.

Sweden would even have had a perfect record if they managed to retain a two-goal lead in Slovakia, who fought back to steal a point in Bratislava last month.

It all kicked off with a 3-1 away victory over Azerbaijan in September, when Isak and Gyokeres were both on target in Baku, and Tomasson's troops must now wrap things up by meeting the same opponents on home turf.

Henri Anier and Badavi Huseynov, during Estonia vs Azerbaijan on 11 October, 2024© Imago

In their third successive League C campaign, Azerbaijan occupy last place in a particularly tough group, having picked up just one point from five fixtures so far.

Coming into this month's finale, they had lost 3-1 to both Sweden and Estonia - and twice to Slovakia - so were faced with a must-win match on Saturday evening.

After failing to break down Estonia in Qabala, where they were held to a goalless draw despite dominating the ball, the Azeris could be bound for demotion to League D - Europe's lowest level.

Two of the teams that finish last in their League C groups - those with the worst records after all six matches - will be relegated, and they sit bottom of that four-nation mini-league as things stand.

Having been hired earlier this year, veteran coach Fernando Santos has been unable to turn Azerbaijan's fortunes around, and their last win came against Kazakhstan five months ago - ending that drought in Sweden will be a tall order.

Sweden Nations League form:


Sweden form (all competitions):


Azerbaijan Nations League form:


Azerbaijan form (all competitions):



Team News

Manchester United and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof is taken off with an injury on November 16, 2024© Imago

One of several changes expected to Sweden's lineup will be enforced by injury, as Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof was forced off during Saturday's win against Slovakia and could be set for another spell on the sidelines.

With promotion already wrapped up, Jon Dahl Tomasson can afford to rotate his squad, so the hosts' potent attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Dejan Kulusevski may be broken up.

Tomasson drafted in Isac Lidberg - who has scored 10 goals in 12 club games this season - following a number of withdrawals, including Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. The Darmstadt striker could join Tottenham Hotspur's Lucas Bergvall in the side, if the Blagult's boss decides to rest some weary legs.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan have been beset by injuries this month, with players such as Emin Mahmudov and Rustam Ahmadzada pulling out of the squad.

First-choice striker Mahir Emreli is back after serving suspension, though, and he could replace Qarabag's Musa Gurbanli, who deputised at the weekend.

Experienced goalkeeper Mehdi Jannatov was dropped after shipping 11 goals in four Nations League matches, so Rza Jafarov should be handed his third cap after keeping a clean sheet against Estonia.


Sweden possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Starfelt, Hien, Gudmundsson; Holm, Karlstrom, Bergvall, Sema; Forsberg; Isak, Lidberg

Azerbaijan possible starting lineup:
Jafarov; Aliyev, Mustafazada, B. Huseynov, Mammadov, Cafarguliyev; Sheydayev, Nuriyev, Isayev, Bayramov; Emreli


SM words green background

We say: Sweden 3-0 Azerbaijan

Neither side has much to play for, so a straightforward Sweden win should be expected against opponents that have leaked lots of goals so far.

The hosts will sign off their brief stay in League C with a celebratory win, while Azerbaijan are surely bound for the Nations League's lowest tier.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


ID:558298:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13351:
Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Sweden vs Azerbaijan

Sweden
83.1%
Draw
8.9%
Azerbaijan
8.1%
124
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal on September 10, 2024
Read Next:
From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!