Austria and Serbia lock horns at Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoff.
With only one team earning a place in League A, expect a high-intensity battle in Vienna.
Austria have won the last two meetings against Serbia, including a 3-2 victory in their last competitive encounter in Vienna in 2017.
Austria narrowly missed automatic promotion after finishing second behind Norway in Group B3.
However, Ralf Rangnickβs side have been impressive at home, remaining unbeaten in their three group-stage matches.
π Last 5 matches: β
β
π€ββ
β½ Last match: 1-1 vs. Slovenia (H)
β Maximilian Wober (knee), Stefan Posch (thigh), Kevin Danso (thigh), Konrad Laimer (suspended)
β David Alaba & Xaver Schlager return.
β Wins: 8 | π€ Draws: 3 | β Losses: 1
Austria have won six of their last seven Nations League home matches.
Serbia finished third in League A Group 4, behind Spain and Denmark, narrowly avoiding automatic relegation.
Their poor recent form means Dragan Stojkovicβs job is under scrutiny, with Serbia winning just one of their last nine matches.
π Last 5 matches: π€βββ
β
β½ Last match: 0-0 vs. Denmark (H)
β Aleksandar Mitrovic (health concerns), Ivan Ilic (illness), Nikola Milenkovic (suspended), Strahinja Pavlovic (suspended), Andrija Zivkovic (suspended), Aleksa Terzic (suspended)
β New call-ups: Ognjen Mimovic & Mihajlo Cvetkovic
β Wins: 3 | π€ Draws: 2 | β Losses: 5
Serbia have failed to score in five of their last seven matches.
β
Austria 2-1 Serbia β June 2024 (Friendly)
β
Austria 3-2 Serbia β Oct 2017 (World Cup Qualifier)
β½ Prediction: Austria 2-0 Serbia
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Austriaβs home advantage and strong attacking form make them favourites, while Serbiaβs struggles in front of goal continue.
π Both Teams to Score: No β
π Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5 Goals β
π First Goal Scorer: Christoph Baumgartner β
π Half-Time Result: Austria to Lead (1-0) β
π§€ Pentz
π‘οΈ Prass β Alaba β Lienhart β Mwene
β‘ Seiwald β Wimmer
π₯ Schmid β Baumgartner β Sabitzer
π― Arnautovic
π§€ Rajkovic
π‘οΈ Babic β Veljkovic β Erakovic
β‘ Birmancevic β Maksimovic β Lukic β Topic
π₯ Samardzic
π― Vlahovic β Jovic
π
Match Date: March 20, 2025
π Venue: Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna
β° Kickoff Time: 7:45 PM UK Time
Austriaβs home dominance and attacking firepower give them a strong edge, while Serbiaβs defensive absences and poor form put them at risk of relegation.
Can Austria take control before the return leg in Belgrade, or will Serbia find a way to grind out a result?
π₯ Drop your predictions below!
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