BETTING GUIDE: Greece Vs Scotland, match preview, team news and prediction
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Reading Time: 5min | Sat. 15.11.25. | 12:00
Scotland won the reverse match 3-1 in Glasgow last month, and another triumph would complete an important double over a Greece side whose qualifying campaign has fallen apart in dramatic fashion
Still in the chase for automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Scotland travel to the Karaiskakis Stadium in Attica for a crucial Group C encounter against Greece on Saturday night.
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The Tartan Army know that victory here keeps their hopes of finishing top very much alive, while anything less could leave them relying on results elsewhere - especially with Denmark expected to overcome Belarus in their simultaneous fixture.
Scotland won the reverse match 3-1 in Glasgow last month, and another triumph would complete an important double over a Greece side whose qualifying campaign has fallen apart in dramatic fashion.
Scotland enter this fixture with renewed confidence after back-to-back wins over Belarus and Greece, hauling themselves to 10 points - level with Denmark at the summit of Group C.
However, their most recent performance drew mixed reactions, as Steve Clarke’s men laboured to a shaky 2-1 victory over Belarus in front of an unimpressed Hampden Park crowd.
Despite this, the result secured Clarke a milestone 72nd match in charge - a national team record - while keeping Scotland firmly within touching distance of automatic qualification.
Ranked 38th in the world, Scotland have enjoyed a strong qualifying cycle overall, and this fixture marks their fourth meeting with Greece in 2025.
They claimed a 3-1 victory in the Nations League play-off earlier this year, followed by last month’s win in Glasgow that saw them overturn a deficit to score three times in a dominant final half-hour.
Victory on Saturday would also extend Scotland’s unbeaten away run to six games (W4, D1), their best run on the road in more than two decades.
Greece, meanwhile, have experienced a drastic shift in fortunes.
After opening their qualifying campaign with an emphatic 5-1 win over Belarus and then stringing together four straight victories across competitions, their World Cup dream has collapsed.
Three consecutive Group C defeats - conceding nine goals in total - have left them third with only three points from four qualifiers.
Their hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 2014 are mathematically over, and they now play only for pride.
The reverse meeting with Scotland was the turning point. Leading 1-0 with over 60% possession, Greece unravelled, conceding three goals to Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, and Lyndon Dykes.
Days later, they suffered another 3-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark, confirming their elimination.
Ranked 48th by FIFA, they now seek to avoid losing four straight World Cup qualifiers for the first time since 1973.
Greece’s form has deteriorated alarmingly.
Their qualifying record reads W1, L3, with defensive frailties front and centre: they have conceded 3+ goals in each of their last three qualifiers, a statistic more severe than in their previous 61 internationals combined.
However, they have found the net in six of their last seven matches, showing that despite their struggles, they retain a threat going forward - especially in front of their home base.
Scotland’s form paints a contrasting picture.
They have won nine of their last 11 World Cup qualifiers, and have scored first in three of their four Group C matches.
Away from home, they have been outstanding in 2025, keeping four consecutive clean sheets on their travels.
A win here would underline their growing identity as a disciplined, well-structured outfit capable of performing under pressure.
Historically, this fixture has been competitive.
This match is the fourth meeting between these sides in 2025, with Scotland holding a narrow edge (W2, L1).
Both previous encounters in Greece ended 1-0, each side claiming one win apiece.
This suggests a tight matchup historically, though current form heavily favours the visitors.
Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic has introduced new faces into the squad, including Australia-born Nectarios Triantis and 18-year-old Brighton forward Charalampos Kostoulas.
Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis should lead the line, while Kostas Tsimikas, Tasos Bakasetas, Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos are all expected to start.
However, injuries to key players Konstantinos Mavropanos and Fotis Ioannidis weaken both their defensive solidity and attacking focal point.
Scotland, on the other hand, have had to deal with some absences of their own.
Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller and Ross McCrorie have all withdrawn through injury.
Veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon could earn his 82nd cap due to the absence of first-choice Angus Gunn, while Scott McTominay, Ferguson and McGinn are all likely to operate in midfield.
Up front, Che Adams is expected to keep his place after starting every qualifier so far.
Greece’s structure under Jovanovic typically features a compact shape designed to control midfield zones and progress the ball through wide areas.
However, their defensive vulnerability has been glaring, especially when pressed aggressively or forced into quick transitions.
Their best attacking outlet remains the pace and dynamism of Christos Tzolis, who has scored five goals in his last nine internationals.
Scotland rely on structural discipline, vertical transitions, and midfield power.
McTominay remains their biggest threat, especially with his ability to time late runs into the box - eight of his last ten international goals have come before the hour mark.
Scotland’s physicality and organisation make them tough to break down, and they arrive with superior balance in every department.
Key Pointers
Greece are on a three-match losing streak.
Scotland remain unbeaten in their last five fixtures.
Scotland have secured three straight wins heading into this match.
Greece have been beaten by Scotland in three of their previous five meetings.
Scotland’s motivation, Greece’s defensive weaknesses, and the attacking quality on both sides point strongly toward a high-scoring contest.
Greece have conceded three in each of their last three qualifiers, while Scotland have the firepower and structure to exploit gaps.
With Greece still dangerous going forward and Scotland needing goals to keep pace with Denmark, this fixture has all the ingredients for an open, attacking game.
Prediction; Over 2.5 Goals
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