Luxembourg v Northern Ireland: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Northern Ireland head to Luxembourg in the Nations League on Monday knowing that they will secure promotion to Nations League B level as long as they avoid defeat.

Luxembourg have just two points on the board from five games in Group C3 and will definitely finish bottom of the pile, irrespective of the result.

As it stands, they will face a play-off against a team bidding to win promotion from League D but they could still slip into the automatic relegation spots if they fail to win.

Luxembourg v Northern Ireland Predictions

Northern Ireland to win and both teams to score no - 2/1

Northern Ireland ran out 2-0 winners when these sides met in the reverse fixture in September and look well placed to claim maximum points in this latest meeting.

Michael O'Neill's side have won their last two games and are unbeaten in three, while going back further they have four wins and just one defeat in their last six games.

In contrast, Luxembourg are in poor form with five defeats in their last seven games - their longest winless run since 2019 - and their attack has been toothless. Les Lions Rouges have scored just one goal during their current slump, and mustered just two attempts on goal when they last faced Northern Ireland.

A win for Northern Ireland is priced at 21/20 and looks a solid selection if you're planning on putting together an accumulator/multiple for Monday's Nations League games, but there is a clear opportunity to be a bit bolder here and back the visitors to win without conceding.

The Green and White Army have only conceded one goal in the Nations League as O'Neill has made them an incredibly effective defensive unit. The goal they did concede, in a 1-0 defeat to Bulgaria, came courtesy of a goalkeeping error from Bailey Peacock-Farrell and he has now slipped behind Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles in the pecking order.

Charles has kept three shut-outs in his last three international games and with the visitors looking watertight defensively and Luxembourg seemingly devoid of ideas in attack, backing Northern Ireland to win to nil at 2/1 has real appeal.

Dion Charles anytime goalscorer - 11/4

Dion Charles looks the standout candidate for an anytime effort for Northern Ireland after his strike in Friday's 2-0 win over Belarus.

Charles scored from the spot against Belarus and should retain penalty duties, further strengthening his credentials as a possible scorer, and he comes into the game after some solid displays at club level in League One with Bolton Wanderers.

The 29-year-old has six goals in 14 league games for Wanderers this season and averages a reasonable 2.3 attempts per game in England's third tier.

That goal against Belarus was his first of this Nations League cycle but he did see an effort chalked off in the 5-0 mauling of Bulgaria and he can finish the group stages on a high by at least doubling his tally at the Stade de Luxembourg.

Dirk Carlson to be booked - 15/8

Luxembourg will finish bottom of the pile whatever the result but they will be eager to try and get something out of this game in a bid to avoid the two automatic relegation places at League C level.

That could lead to a physical approach to their play and potentially even a bit of desperation if the match is getting away from them, so a few cards could be dished out to the hosts and defender Dirk Carlson looks a decent candidate for a booking.

Carlson has two bookings in 13 league games for club side St Polten in Austria's second tier this season and two cautions in his last six games for his country, with his last card for Luxembourg coming against Bulgaria in the October Nations League games.

The 26-year-old averages exactly two fouls per game in this competition for Luc Holtz's side and two infringements may be enough for a card in the last round of fixtures on Monday.

Luxembourg v Northern Ireland odds

Luxembourg - 11/4
Draw - 9/4
Northern Ireland - 21/20

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.