March 20, 2025
3 Minute Read
Bulgaria v Ireland: Nations League Playoff Preview & Betting Tips
Ireland faces a crucial Nations League promotion/relegation playoff against Bulgaria on Thursday night, with the Boys in Green aiming to secure their place in League B. It’s still early in Heimir Hallgrimsson’s tenure as manager, and this two-legged tie will really put his credentials to the test with the Irish fans.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, finished second in League C3, behind Northern Ireland, and now have the chance to push for promotion. However, instability in their camp and a lack of attacking firepower could make this a tricky task.
A tight and cagey affair is expected in Sofia, with both sides struggling for goals in recent outings.
📊 Match Odds
Latest odds for Bulgaria v Ireland (90 mins)
- Bulgaria – 3.30
- Draw – 2.90
- Ireland – 2.44
Odds correct at time of writing.
🔎 Bulgaria v Ireland: Team Form & Key Stats
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- Second place in League C3, finishing behind Northern Ireland.
- Drew eight of their last 12 internationals, including 1-1 with Belarus in November.
- Struggled for goals, scoring just three times in six Nations League matches.
- Defensive resilience, conceding only one goal in five group games (excluding a 5-0 loss to Northern Ireland).
🇮🇪 Ireland
- Won just two of their last six games, both against Finland.
- Lost all four matches against England and Greece in the group stage, without scoring.
- Suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to England in November.
- Failed to score in eight of their last 12 internationals.
⚔️ Head-to-Head: A History of Stalemates
This fixture has a history of closely contested games, with five of the last six meetings ending in draws. Both sides have struggled to assert dominance, and with goals proving hard to come by for both squads, another low-scoring affair seems likely.
🔹 Last Meeting – 1-1 (Friendly, 2020)
🔹 Bulgaria’s Last Win vs Ireland – 1987 (Euro Qualifier)
🔑 Key Players to Watch
🇧🇬 Bulgaria – Ilia Gruev
The Leeds United midfielder is back in the squad and will be tasked with controlling the tempo in midfield. If Bulgaria can keep possession and limit Ireland’s attacking moments, Gruev will be central to their efforts.
🇮🇪 Ireland – Evan Ferguson
The West Ham striker remains Ireland’s best hope for a goal. With Troy Parrott also set to start, Hallgrimsson will be hoping this young strike partnership can finally solve Ireland’s attacking woes.
📋 Predicted Lineups
🇧🇬 Bulgaria (4-3-3)
Mitov; Popov, S. Petrov, A. Petkov, Nurnberger; Panayotov, Kraev, Gruev; M. Petkov, Kolev, Kirilov
Key Absences: No major injuries, expect a similar lineup to their 1-1 draw vs Belarus in November.
🇮🇪 Ireland (4-4-2)
Kelleher; Doherty, Collins, O’Shea, Manning; Moran, Cullen, Knight, Johnston; Parrott, Ferguson
Key Absences: Will Smallbone, Callum O’Dowda, and Sammie Szmodics are ruled out. Ryan Manning could start at left-back.
💡 Best Bets & Predictions
✅ Best Bet: Draw – 2.90
With Bulgaria drawing eight of their last 12 games and Ireland struggling in attack, this looks like another match that could end level.
🎯 Correct Score Prediction: 1-1 – 5.75
Neither team has the cutting edge to dominate, and a low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome.
⚽ Alternative Bet: Under 2.5 Goals – 1.49
Both sides have struggled for goals, and a cagey first leg is expected ahead of the return fixture in Dublin.
🏆 Final Verdict
Ireland may be favourites on paper, but their attacking struggles and Bulgaria’s defensive approach make this a difficult game. With a second leg to come at the Aviva Stadium, a draw in Sofia wouldn’t be a bad result for Hallgrimsson’s men.
