Scotland v Israel betting tips: Israel hampered by injuries

Preview and odds for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier

Scotland’s quest to make it to next winter’s World Cup in Qatar continues when they host Israel, so we look at the odds to find some Scotland v Israel betting tips.

Both sides are chasing Group F leaders Denmark but second spot will mean a spot in the play-offs, so this is a key game for both teams.

Saturday’s match, which takes place at Hampden Park, is live on Sky Sports and kicks off at 5pm BST.

Scotland v Israel match odds

Scotland’s well-deserved win in Austria sees Steve Clarke’s side second in the group by a point from Israel.

Scotland are 19/20 to defeat Israel and should they avoid defeat, they will be in great shape for their final two games against Moldova and the Faroe Islands, who have one win between them in Group F.

Denmark look home and hosed, having won all six games thus far and they have yet to concede a goal.

Scotland have only managed nine goals from their six games, but Clarke’s side have been stingy, conceding just five, and have a one-goal superior goal difference to Israel.

The visitors, who have also won three of their six games, put five past Austria last month, but were brought quickly down to earth by Denmark, who beat them 5-0 in Copenhagen.

Israel are 13/4 to win, while the draw is on offer at 9/4.

Scotland v Israel head-to-head

The pair drew 1-1 in Tel Aviv in the reverse fixture in March, with Ryan Fraser’s 56th-minute strike cancelling out Dor Peretz’s goal for the hosts just before half-time.

Williblad Ruttensteiner’s side have proven to be no pushovers and Scotland have won just one of the last four meetings (D2 L1).

However, they have only lost two of their previous nine clashes and Clarke’s side are 2/9 to avoid defeat.

Traditionally there have not been too many goals when these two meet, with just three of the last nine clashes yielding three goals or more. It is 13/10 that there will be three or more total goals this time.

Five of their nine previous meetings saw both sides net and it is evens that this is the case again in Scotland v Israel betting tips.

Scotland v Israel teams news

Israel have something of an injury crisis for this crunch clash, with as many as four key players ruled out.

Defenders Eitan Tibi and Orel Dgani, sub keeper Ariel Harush and midfielder Omer Atzili are all out.

They have also called up defender Idan Nachmias, with his Maccabi Tel Aviv boss Patrick van Leeuwen insisting the player is nowhere near full fitness with a shoulder injury.

Scotland will have Scott McTominay back after injury and Celtic captain Callum McGregor is also recalled, despite missing the last four games for his club.

Scotland v Israel key battles

Scotland will hope to keep PSV Eindhoven striker Eran Zahavi quiet. The 33-year-old has scored 24 goals in 60 internationals.

Fellow striker Moanes Dabbur is also a threat. The Hoffenheim marksman has seven goals for his country and is one to look out for on the anytime goalscorer market.

View the latest Israel v Scotland odds

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication