Nepal – Bahrain: winner Bahrain -3.5 goals

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March 21, 2024

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Our pick: Nepal – Bahrain: winner Bahrain -3.5 goals

21.03.2024 20:00

After the continental championship, the second phase of the world qualifiers is underway again in Asia and the Nepal-Bahrain duel pits David and Goliath against each other. Nepal are the 12th lowest ranked team in the FIFA rankings in Asia and just to qualify for the second phase via Laos was a great achievement for them. Anyway, it is at zero in the group with points and goals scored after two rounds, having lost 0-4 (half-time 0-4) to the United Arab Emirates in Dubai and 0-2 at home to Yemen in November. However, that was played Kathmandu at a high altitude (1,400) while both the upcoming matches with Bahrain were played on the opponents’ soil.

This is a big advantage for Bahrain, firstly they will avoid the difficult journey to the interior of the continent and the inhospitable conditions under the high peaks of the Himalayas, secondly they will have the advantage of a familiar environment. The clear goal is a maiden World Cup qualification, which Bahrain has twice missed in the intercontinental play-offs. It won the preliminary group at the Asian Cup, but an eighth-round defeat by Japan cost coach Juan Antonio Pizzi his job. The national team has been taken over by the federation’s technical director Dragan Talajic and the players will be keen to prove themselves on his debut. Anyway, given the promotion math (top two go on), it is in Bahrain’s interest to win by the highest possible margin. After two rounds out of six, like Yemen, they have three points and a 2-2 scoreline, and it is the scoreline that is the first criterion in the event of a tie.

What to bet on:

The quality of football and the home environment play clearly in favour of Bahrain, who will register a mandatory win by at least four goals. In the dress rehearsal, Nepal lost to Malaysia 1-5.

Confidence:

7/10

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