Switzerland vs Bulgaria

Switzerland will be aiming for an all-important win when they take on Bulgaria in their last World Cup qualifying fixture at the Swissporarena in Luzern.

Jorginho’s missed penalty in Rome last time out handed Switzerland a 1-1 draw, leaving them with faint hopes of leapfrogging Italy to the top of Group C. Level on points with the Italians ahead of the kick-off, the hosts need to overwhelm Bulgaria to improve their chances of overthrowing the Euro 2020, who boast a two-goal advantage on goal difference. Unbeaten after seven qualifying matches in Group C (W4, D3), the ‘Nati’ have been a defensive force to be reckoned with, conceding just twice across those outings. Even though one of those goals came in a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in the reverse fixture, Switzerland’s unbeaten historical H2H record (W4, D2) explains their status as pre-match favorites. At home, though, Murat Yakin’s men have scored an average of just one goal per game in the ongoing qualifying cycle (W2, D1).

Switzerland’s uninspiring attacking showings on home turf could give Bulgaria some hope that they can register their first and only away win in the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign (D2, L1). Despite winning two of their last three Group C fixtures (L1), Bulgaria’s dreadful start to this qualifying cycle (D2, L2) has eventually come back to haunt them. A return of just one defeat from their last six internationals (W3, D2) – which includes a 1-1 away draw with Italy and 2-1 home win over Northern Ireland – means Switzerland can ill-afford to underestimate the Bulgarians here. A leaky backline that has failed to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last nine international fixtures could be a problem, though.