Austria vs Israel Betting Tips 24/09

Austria look to reset as Nations League campaign begins

Austria return to competitive action this Thursday evening, aiming to put a challenging summer behind them as they host Israel at the Raiffeisen Arena. The match, which kicks off at 20:45 CET, marks the opening fixture of the UEFA Nations League B Group 3 and offers both sides a fresh start in a new tournament cycle.

Seeking momentum after a difficult summer

Austria’s recent experiences on the world stage were testing, with a difficult run in the group stage of the World Cup culminating in a 3-0 defeat to Spain in July. While they secured a memorable 3-1 victory over Jordan earlier in that same tournament, the team will be eager to regain the defensive discipline that helped them keep clean sheets against Tunisia and South Korea earlier this year. Establishing control at the Raiffeisen Arena is the first priority for the hosts as they look to build a foundation in this group.

Tactical adjustments for the hosts

With key creative forces like Christoph Baumgartner and Konrad Laimer sidelined through injury, the burden of orchestrating the attack will fall on the expected midfield trio of Patrick Wimmer, Paul Wanner, and Romano Schmid. Their ability to link up with Michael Gregoritsch will be crucial, especially given that Austria has shown a tendency to concede late goals in their recent outings. Maintaining concentration until the final whistle will be the primary tactical challenge for the defensive line anchored by Kevin Danso and Marco Friedl.

Israel’s search for consistency

Israel arrives in Austria following a mixed run of results, including a hard-fought 1-0 win over Albania in their most recent friendly. Their recent history in qualification matches has been defined by high-scoring affairs, such as the dramatic 5-4 defeat to Italy and a convincing 4-1 victory against Moldova. With Dor Peretz expected to anchor the midfield and provide a creative spark, Israel will look to exploit any lapses in the Austrian defensive structure.

A history of high-scoring encounters

Matches between these two nations have rarely been quiet affairs, often producing significant goal tallies. Their most recent meetings in 2021 saw a flurry of action, including a 4-2 win for Austria and a 5-2 victory for Israel in the World Cup qualification cycle. Both sides will be mindful of this history, knowing that defensive organization will be just as important as their attacking intent if they are to secure an opening-day advantage.

Expected lineups and team news

Austria are expected to field Alexander Schlager in goal behind a defensive unit featuring Felix Bacher, Marco Friedl, Kevin Danso, and Alexander Prass. The midfield is expected to comprise Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Seiwald alongside the creative trio of Wimmer, Wanner, and Schmid, with Gregoritsch leading the line. Israel are expected to counter with Daniel Peretz in goal, supported by a back four of Roy Revivo, Raz Shlomo, Ilay Feingold, and Eliazer Dasa, while the midfield and attack should feature Dor Peretz, Oscar Gloukh, Manor Solomon, Mohammad Abu Fani, Gabi Kanichowsky, and Liel Abada.