Austria and Norway meet for a top-of-the-table clash in Nations League Group B1 at Ernst Happel Stadion on Wednesday.
Austria currently sit top of the group on 12 points – three points ahead of second-place Norway. However, Lars Lagerback’s side have a game in hand over the Austrians.
Alexander #Schlager und Cican #Stankovic mit vollem Einsatz und viel Freude beim heutigen Vormittagstraining! 😁👌🏻 #GemeinsamÖsterreich pic.twitter.com/GDKyxzfsiF— ÖFB - oefb.at (@oefb1904) November 16, 2020
Alexander #Schlager und Cican #Stankovic mit vollem Einsatz und viel Freude beim heutigen Vormittagstraining! 😁👌🏻 #GemeinsamÖsterreich pic.twitter.com/GDKyxzfsiF
With Romania third on four points and Northern Ireland bottom on one point, Austria only need a point to finish top.
Both nations come into this game on a three-match winning streak in the Nations League, so this is set to be a competitive encounter.
The two side first met on Matchday 1, with Austria claiming a 2-1 victory over Norway back in early September.
Austria then lost 3-2 to Romania, before claiming three straight victories. Franco Foda’s side did the double over Northern Ireland, as well as getting their revenge over Romania.
In fact, recent friendly victories over Greece and Luxembourg mean that Austria have won their last five outings.
It is also worth pointing out that Foda’s men have kept three clean sheets in their previous four encounters, although they have only managed to score over 1.5 goals on one occasion in that time.
On the flip side, Norway have only played four Nations League games this year, with a 2-1 defeat to Serbia coming in the Euro qualifiers.
After losing to Austria on Matchday 1, Norway crushed Northern Ireland 5-1, with Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth both bagging a brace.
On Matchday 3, Haaland netted a hat-trick as Lagerback’s side thrashed Romania 4-1. Sorloth also got on the scoresheet again.
However, last time out, Norway only beat Northern Ireland thanks to a Stuart Dallas own goal, despite seeing 62% possession and racking up 11 shots (five on target).
Head-to-head: Austria and Norway have meet 11 times over the years, although they have only faced each other once since 2002.
Goals from Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer handed Austria then win back in September, with Haaland scoring a consolation in the second half.
Team news: David Alaba (Bayern Munich) generally features in midfield for Austria, while Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) plays a more advanced role.
Due to positive coronavirus tests and government travel restrictions, Norway are without a number of key players.
Hakon Evjen (AZ Alkmaar) could be handed his first senior start for Norway after impressive at youth level.
Lagerback will be forced to field an understrength team on Wednesday, but Norway should still have enough quality to frustrate Austria.
Forebet predicts that Austria and Norway are likely to play out a goalless draw.