North Macedonia vs Scotland: Both sides seek a way out of scoring slump. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Scotland’s strong away defence, with five clean sheets in seven matches, aligns with North Macedonia’s six-match scoring drought. Despite Scotland’s own scoring struggles and missing key defenders, their defensive solidity and North Macedonia’s vulnerability give Scotland a credible edge to secure victory.
A 2-0 away win suits Scotland’s defensive solidity and North Macedonia’s scoring drought. Scotland’s five clean sheets in seven away games contrast with North Macedonia’s six matches without a goal, making a clean sheet and multiple goals plausible despite Scotland’s own scoring issues.
North Macedonia and Scotland meet at the Toše Proeski Arena on Saturday with both sides already under pressure in UEFA Nations League Group 1.
North Macedonia vs Scotland — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Scotland’s superior away defensive record and North Macedonia’s scoring drought favour a Scotland win.
Scotland’s strong away defence and North Macedonia’s scoring drought favour a Scottish win.
Scotland’s clean sheets and North Macedonia’s scoring drought support a 0-2 outcome.
Scotland have kept five clean sheets in seven away matches, showing defensive strength.
Three Punchy Stats
- Six games:. North Macedonia's current run without scoring is a new negative national record.
- Four matches:. Scotland have also failed to find the net in four consecutive fixtures.
- Five clean sheets:. Scotland have recorded five shutouts across their last seven away games in all competitions, losing only once during that sequence.
Scoring and Defensive Records
Recent attacking records for North Macedonia and Scotland are shown below.
Goals Conceded in Nations League
Recent defensive records for North Macedonia and Scotland are shown below.
Neither nation has scored in their opening two matches, leaving Scotland with one point and North Macedonia bottom after successive defeats. The hosts' problems extend beyond this campaign, with six consecutive games without a goal, while Scotland have drawn a blank in four straight fixtures.
With both attacks searching for a breakthrough, the first goal in Skopje could carry unusual weight in a meeting between teams needing to change the direction of their campaigns.
North Macedonia's drought reaches new low
North Macedonia returned to League B after earning promotion last time around, but the step up has immediately proved difficult.
Goce Sedloski's side began with a 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland before losing 2-0 in Slovenia, where both goals arrived after half time. Those results leave them without a point and with a minus-five goal difference after two matches.
More concerning is the wider attacking trend. North Macedonia have now failed to score in six successive games, setting a new negative national record, while Sedloski is still waiting for both his first victory and first goal after five matches in charge.
Home form at least offers some encouragement. North Macedonia have not suffered consecutive home defeats since 2019, although Switzerland's 3-0 success in Skopje means that record is now under threat.
Enis Bardhi remains an obvious source of experience and attacking influence, having scored 20 times internationally, while teenage midfielder Matej Gashtarov has led his team for tackles, interceptions and possession won in the group so far.
Scotland need attacking response
Scotland's single point came from a goalless draw away to Slovenia on Sebastien Pocognoli's dugout debut, before Switzerland inflicted a 3-0 defeat at Hampden Park.
That second result was heavily shaped by Jack Hendry's red card after only 11 minutes, but it extended Scotland's run without scoring to four games.
Their lack of goals stretches back through defeats against Brazil and Morocco at the World Cup, making Saturday's fixture as much about rediscovering attacking output as collecting points.
There is nevertheless a solid foundation away from home. Scotland have lost only one of their last seven away fixtures across all competitions and have kept five clean sheets during that sequence.
They are also unbeaten in their last three meetings with North Macedonia after losing the first encounter between the countries in September 2008.
Hendry absence forces Scotland change
Hendry's suspension guarantees at least one alteration for the visitors, while Scott McTominay is also absent.
Billy Gilmour could therefore operate alongside Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson in central midfield, with John McGinn and Andy Robertson providing substantial international experience. Robertson is set to win his 100th cap, taking him to within two appearances of Kenny Dalglish's national record of 102.
Kieron Bowie remains an option in attack after his previous appearance was cut short by the tactical reshuffle following Hendry's dismissal. Robbie Ure is another contender to partner Oli McBurnie.
North Macedonia are without Boban Nikolov and the injured Ezgjan Alioski, who suffered a calf problem on the opening matchday.
First goal could transform the contest
The numbers point towards a game in which confidence in front of goal is likely to be central.
North Macedonia have conceded five times across their opening two Nations League fixtures without replying, while Scotland have yet to score but did keep Slovenia out in their only away match of the campaign.
Scotland's recent defensive record on the road contrasts particularly sharply with North Macedonia's six-match scoring drought. At the other end, though, Pocognoli's team have their own attacking problems to solve.
That combination makes a tight contest plausible, with neither side arriving in Skopje carrying much recent evidence of sustained attacking momentum.
📊 Market Explainer
Match Result Market
Selection: Scotland to win. Choose the home win, draw or away win after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties are excluded from settlement.
Correct Score Market
Selection: North Macedonia vs Scotland 0-2. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Scotland to win @ 7/10
Scotland’s superior away defensive record provides a reliable foundation to collect three points in Skopje. Sebastien Pocognoli’s side have lost just one of their last seven away fixtures across all competitions, a sequence underpinned by five clean sheets. That defensive stability on the road includes a goalless draw in Slovenia during their opening Nations League fixture, proving they can restrict opponents away from Hampden Park even when their own attack struggles. Backing the away win relies heavily on this proven capacity to keep the back door shut and limit the home side’s opportunities.
That Scottish defensive solidity aligns directly with North Macedonia’s severe attacking drought. The hosts have failed to score in six consecutive matches, setting a new negative national record, and are yet to find the net under manager Goce Sedloski. By pairing Scotland’s away resilience with a home side lacking any recent goalscoring output, the visitors only need a single breakthrough to secure the result. North Macedonia have already conceded five times across their two opening Nations League defeats against Switzerland and Slovenia, demonstrating that they are vulnerable at the back while offering virtually no threat going forward.
The primary concern for a Scotland victory is their own attacking limitation, as they arrive on a four-match run without scoring and are missing suspended defender Jack Hendry. However, North Macedonia’s minus-five goal difference and inability to score in 180 minutes of Group 1 action give the visitors a distinct advantage. Scotland are unbeaten in their last three meetings with North Macedonia, and given the hosts’ profound struggles in both penalty areas, the away side possess enough defensive discipline to navigate the fixture and secure the victory.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Scotland have kept five clean sheets across their last seven away fixtures in all competitions.
- North Macedonia have failed to score in six consecutive matches, setting a new negative national record.
- The hosts have conceded five goals without reply in their two Nations League Group 1 games.
Risk Factor: Scotland's four-match scoring drought could prevent victory if they fail to break down North Macedonia.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Sebastien Pocognoli's side have kept five clean sheets across their last seven away fixtures.
Failed to score in six consecutive matches, establishing a new negative national record.
⚔️ Pick 2: North Macedonia vs Scotland 0-2 @ 13/2
A 2-0 away victory allows Scotland to break their four-match scoring drought against an opponent displaying severe defensive vulnerabilities. North Macedonia have conceded five goals across their first two Nations League outings, including a 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland and a 2-0 loss in Slovenia. With the hosts routinely conceding multiple goals under Goce Sedloski, Scotland have a clear opportunity to find the net more than once. The visitors’ own attacking issues are notable, but facing a defence possessing a minus-five goal difference offers a realistic platform for a multiple-goal return, particularly given Scotland are unbeaten in their last three meetings with these opponents.
On the other side of the scoreline, a Scottish clean sheet is strongly supported by recent contrasting records. Sebastien Pocognoli’s team have recorded five shutouts in their last seven away fixtures, demonstrating a proven capacity to restrict opponents on the road. They face a North Macedonia attack enduring a historic six-match run without scoring. With the hosts failing to generate attacking output and missing the injured Ezgjan Alioski following a calf problem, the prospect of an away clean sheet is grounded in clear recent evidence, leaving zero goals for the home side as a highly credible outcome.
The primary risk to a 2-0 Scottish victory is their own recent failure to score, having drawn blanks against Slovenia, Switzerland, Brazil and Morocco. Expecting two goals from an attack lacking recent output requires North Macedonia’s defensive frailty to persist. However, given the hosts have conceded at least twice in both group games and failed to score themselves, a 2-0 away win represents a logical scenario that respects both Scotland’s away solidity and North Macedonia’s dual struggles across the pitch.
Risk Factor: Expecting exactly two Scottish goals is fragile given their scoring drought and North Macedonia's potential breakthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Match Result market settle for Scotland?
Scotland must score more goals than North Macedonia after 90 minutes plus stoppage time for a win.
What does Under 2.5 Goals require to win?
The match must finish with zero, one or two total goals combined between both sides.
Why is North Macedonia’s recent form relevant to the Correct Score?
North Macedonia have failed to score in six consecutive matches, supporting a Scottish clean sheet.
What happens to a Correct Score bet if the match ends 0-1 instead of 0-2?
The bet loses entirely as the exact predicted scoreline is required after 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
How does Double Chance differ from the standard Match Result?
Double Chance covers two outcomes, such as Scotland to win or draw, offering wider coverage but shorter odds.
Does Jack Hendry’s suspension void player-specific bets?
If a player does not participate, bets on them are typically voided and stakes returned, subject to bookmaker rules.
