Azerbaijan vs Sweden Prediction: UEFA Nations League Picks 9/5/24

Sweden on a Run of Form

With the current UEFA Nations League campaign being a four-team affair, Sweden looks to keep pace with Serbia and Norway, who sit atop the standings. Azerbaijan is at the bottom and will need a miracle to avoid relegation. Sweden will be favored to collect three points, but Azerbaijan showed fight in the reverse fixture. Sweden is unbeaten in eight competitive matches and will be confident of extending that run against Azerbaijan. The Blue and Yellow picked up a crucial victory during their last outing, edging out Serbia 1-0 in a friendly. Victor Gyokeres scored the game’s only goal as Sweden bounced back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Finland in their previous outing.

Azerbaijan a Tough Out

Despite being outmatched in every statistical category, Azerbaijan gave Sweden all it could handle in their first meeting. Azerbaijan dropped a narrow 1-0 decision on the road and held Sweden to just 48% possession. Sweden had 20 shots, but they managed just five on target, which is why the match was in the balance until the end. Rashad Sadygov has been a force in goal for Azerbaijan, and he recorded five saves in the first meeting with Sweden. Sadygov will need to be in top form for Azerbaijan to steal a point, or even three points, from Sweden.

Azerbaijan vs Sweden Prediction

Sweden enters the match as a heavy favorite. The Blue and Yellow are unbeaten in eight competitive matches and picked up a 1-0 victory over Serbia in a friendly in their last outing. Azerbaijan put up a valiant effort when these two teams met earlier in the Nations League campaign, but Sweden is a different team with Dejan Kulusevski on the pitch. Kulusevski did not play in the previous meeting between these two teams, but he has contributed to three goals in five appearances since returning to the fold for Sweden. Sweden should be able to create plenty of chances against an Azerbaijan side that has conceded at least once in 22 of their last 24 competitive matches. However, Azerbaijan has shown fight in this competition, and they will be determined to make things difficult for Sweden. With that said, Sweden should have too much quality for Azerbaijan and should be able to secure a comfortable victory. Pick: Sweden -1.5 (-115)