Under 2.5 Goals Predictions and Tips

Both teams are terrible offensively. Malta scored four goals in the last four matches, while Luxembourg scored only one goal in the previous eight games. Also, all of six meetings between these two teams went under 2.5 goals. We will unlikely see more than two goals on Thursday night.

Gibraltar’s compact defensive approach could limit the number of clear opportunities for Latvia, especially considering Latvia averaged less than one goal per game during the World Cup qualification campaign. In fact, under 2.5 goals has occurred in four of Latvia's last eight World Cup qualifiers.

Despite both teams being likely to score, a "cagey" playoff atmosphere usually favors a low total goal count. Historical head-to-head data reinforces this, as three of the last four meetings between these two nations have ended with fewer than three goals, including 1-1 and 1-0 results.

A potentially tight and tense occasion seems likely to develop in Bratislava. Slovakia have seen under 2.5 goals scored in eight of nine previous competitive fixtures, including all three home World Cup qualifiers in 2025. Each of Kosovo's last five matches also finished with fewer than three goals scored.

Games between these sides rarely open up. Four of the last five stayed under 2.5 goals, and that feels more like a pattern than chance. Sweden’s recent matches have been especially quiet, just two goals in five, so a tight scoreline seems likely.

Albania are likely to adopt a cautious approach, focusing on defensive organization, which could keep the game relatively tight. Under 2.5 goals has landed in Albania’s last four WC qualifying matches.

A low-scoring encounter seems likely in Wednesday's AFCON qualifier. Under 3.5 goals were scored in ten of Ethiopia's last 12 international fixtures. Five of Sao Tome and Principe's seven previous fixtures also saw fewer than four goals scored. 

Ghana’s recent run of games has been relatively low scoring, with five of their last six fixtures producing fewer than 2.5 goals. On the contrary, Austria's recent fixtures have also produced fewer goals: under 2.5 goals has occurred in each of their last three WC qualifiers.

The friendly at Ernst Happel Stadion should not be the place to see many goals on Friday night. These 2026 FIFA World Cup participants were never among the most prolific teams, and as this match is not an official one, there’s a tendency for even fewer goals to be scored.

It was under 2.5 goals in five of the previous seven matches played by Ghana. The exceptions were games against Central Africa and Trinidad & Tobago, when the Black Stars trashed their opponents. Talking about Austria, under 2.5 goals were scored in four of their last seven games. Two of those exceptions were games against San Marino, when the Austrians scored 14 goals in total. All in all, I’m expecting a low-scoring affair in Vienna, and the odds of 1.85 are good enough for me.

Despite the defensive lapses, both teams suffer from low offensive productivity, with Mirandes averaging less than one goal per game (30 goals in 31 matches). Cordoba’s recent scoring has also dried up during their losing streak, failing to score in three of their last four fixtures. With both sides desperate for points to break their respective slumps, a cagey, defensive tactical approach is expected, likely resulting in a low-scoring 1-1 draw.