Scotland vs Switzerland best bets, odds and a three-leg bet builder for Tuesday's 19:45 Nations League game at Hampden, plus our score prediction and lineups.
Scotland vs SwitzerlandSee All Odds
Sébastien Pocognoli takes charge of Scotland at Hampden for the first time, and he needs a goal from somewhere. Scotland had 17 shots and 2.16 xG on Saturday but still drew 0-0 in Slovenia, and they've now failed to score in three straight games. Switzerland sit top of Nations League B Group 1 after beating North Macedonia 3-0, and they haven't lost a game inside 90 minutes in their last ten. Both squads are short. Scotland are without McTominay, Adams, Shankland and Tierney, while Switzerland are missing Xhaka, Embolo, Zakaria and Vargas. Only the group winner goes up, so a Swiss win would already open a four-point gap.
Scotland vs Switzerland Best Bets
Best bet: Switzerland to win
Switzerland are the better side and they're close to evens. They are unbeaten in their last ten games over 90 minutes, winning five and drawing five, with 18 goals scored and only 6 conceded. Their one defeat in that run came in extra time in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, after it was 1-1 at 90 minutes. Away from home they've been even harder to break down, with four clean sheets and a single goal conceded in their last five true away games.
Scotland aren't scoring. They've failed to score in five of their last ten, including the last three, and they won only four of those ten. Missing McTominay hurts most, because he has been their main source of goals from midfield in recent campaigns. With Adams and Shankland also out, the attack relies on McBurnie, who has played very little international football.
The case against is Scotland's home record and Saturday's performance. They've won five of their last eight at Hampden, and they created enough against Slovenia to have won comfortably. Switzerland also have to cope without their captain Xhaka in midfield. Even so, 19/20 implies only about a 51% chance of a Swiss win for a side with this record, and Switzerland to win is the bet to stake heaviest on.
Who is the favourite to win Scotland vs Switzerland?
| Outcome | Price |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 17/5 |
| Draw | 13/5 |
| Switzerland | 19/20 |
Switzerland are narrow favourites at 19/20, with 10/11 widely available. The market respects Scotland's home form more than their recent results, which is why a side unbeaten in ten over 90 minutes is only just odds-on. Scotland are 17/5 and the draw is 13/5. Switzerland draw no bet is 2/5 for anyone who wants cover against a draw.
Scotland vs Switzerland Bet Builder Tips
1. Aaron Hickey over 1.5 fouls won
Hickey starts at wing-back and carries the ball forward whenever Scotland have possession. He has won two or more fouls in 5 of his last 9 appearances (55.6%), averaging 1.67 per game, including four against Haiti and three against Curaçao. Scotland had 65% of the ball in Slovenia, so Hickey should get plenty of chances to run at a side that gives away more fouls than average.
2. Johan Manzambi over 0.5 shots on target
Manzambi starts in the number 10 role behind Amdouni and is Switzerland's main goal threat from midfield. He has three goals in his last four appearances and has hit the target in five of his last seven internationals.
3. John McGinn over 0.5 shots on target
McGinn starts behind the striker, and with McTominay out he's the midfielder Scotland need to get into the box. He has hit the target in 9 of his last 19 appearances, averaging 0.47 shots on target per game. Switzerland's opponents land 5.7 shots on target per game against an average of 4.3. At 3.00 this is the longest price in the builder, and it's value for Scotland's most reliable goal threat from midfield.
Scotland vs Switzerland Score Prediction
Scotland 1-2 Switzerland
Switzerland have the better players and the stronger recent record. Freuler and Jashari are an experienced midfield pairing even without Xhaka, and Ndoye and Manzambi give them pace and goals behind Amdouni. Amdouni scored twice against North Macedonia on Saturday. Scotland's back three will have to defend in open spaces, and they'll be facing more pace than they faced in Slovenia.
Scotland should score, though. Both teams have scored in five of Scotland's last eight home games, and six of those eight had over 2.5 goals. They created 2.16 xG in Slovenia and ran into a goalkeeper in top form, so the chances are there even without McTominay. The crowd for Pocognoli's first home game will push them forward, and that should leave space for Switzerland on the break.
The last meeting was a 1-1 draw at Euro 2024, and Switzerland won 3-1 on their last visit to Hampden in 2006. Switzerland should take this one with a late goal, and 2-1 to the visitors is the prediction.
Scotland vs Switzerland Predicted Lineups
Scotland: Gunn; Hendry, McKenna, Welsh; Hickey, Gilmour, Ferguson, Robertson; McGinn, Gannon-Doak; McBurnie
Switzerland: Kobel; Athekame, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Jashari; Ndoye, Manzambi, Rieder; Amdouni
Scotland are without McTominay, Adams, Shankland, Tierney and McLean, but they picked up no new injuries in Slovenia. Bowie could start alongside McBurnie up front, with Gannon-Doak dropping out. Switzerland are without Xhaka, Embolo, Zakaria and Vargas. Manzambi played 63 minutes on Saturday and should be fit despite a reported knee knock. Jaquez has a muscle injury. Sanches could replace Rieder, and Britschgi is pushing for a start in the back four.
