Poland vs Scotland predictions: Tartan Army to go out swinging
- Both teams have scored in nine of Poland’s last 10 internationals
- Poland won 3-2 away at Hampden Park in September
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Scotland gave their supporters a huge lift with Friday’s last-gasp 1-0 home win over Croatia and they will be targeting another victory in Poland, which could see them finish second in Nations League Group A1 behind Portugal.
For that to happen, which would see them qualify for the quarter-finals plus be rewarded with a place in Pot 1 for the World Cup qualifying draw, the Tartan Army must win while hoping Portugal play their part by winning in Croatia.
Scotland also need a swing of a few goals with Croatia for that to come to fruition so that should contribute to an entertaining encounter with Poland, who also have plenty at stake with a positive result enabling them to finish third above the Tartan Army.
Steve Clarke’s side will enter the relegation play-offs if they win but do not overtake Croatia but they will be demoted to League B if failing to win, leaving Poland in the relegation play-offs.
When these two met at Hampden Park in September, Poland prevailed in a 3-2 thriller courtesy of an injury-time penalty from Nicola Zalewski, and this rematch could follow a similar narrative.
Team news
Poland are without talisman Robert Lewandowski, who is struggling with a lower back injury, so Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski will skipper the side in his absence.
Forward Arkadiusz Milik is also out of action alongside Hellas Verona defender Pawel Dawidowicz.
Scotland boss Clarke is likely to deploy a starting line-up similar to that which kicked off against Croatia, given his team's Nations League fate is at stake.
Having Scott McKenna, Jack Hendry, John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong back in the squad following recent injuries is a huge boost but they must do without striker Che Adams and keeper Angus Gunn.
The stats
Scotland ended an eight-game winless run with Friday’s 1-0 victory at home to Croatia.
Poland have won only one of their last eight internationals, which came courtesy of their 3-2 victory in Scotland in September.
Both teams have scored in nine of Poland’s last 10 internationals while the net has bulged at both ends in five of Scotland’s last seven road trips.
The Tartan Army have won only one of their last eight away games.
Both teams have scored in six of the last seven meetings between the sides.
Prediction
With both teams in need of a positive result, this has the makings of being a high-scoring encounter and an early goal could see the floodgates open.
Poland were 3-2 winners away at Scotland in September and that means both teams have scored in 12 of their last 15 international matches.
Star striker Lewandowski may be missing but they were still able to get on the scoresheet in a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Portugal on Friday and their last home game saw them share the spoils in a six-goal thriller with Croatia.
Scotland have kept back-to-back clean sheets but those came at home to Portugal and Croatia, when they were roared on by a raucous Hampden Park crowd.
Things will be much different at the Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw, however, and the Tartan Army’s only away win in eight games came in a friendly at minnows Gibraltar.
A draw is of no good to Scotland so they have no choice but to adopt positive tactics and that should contribute to a lively encounter, with both teams taken to get on the scoresheet.
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