Republic of Ireland vs Bulgaria Predictions

• Republic of Ireland have won two of their last four home games
• Bulgaria scored one goal across their three Nations League away games
• Bulgaria lost 5-0 to Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in October

Improving Irish should kick on 

The Republic of Ireland showed further glimpses of their potential in Sofia and can follow that 2-1 win over Bulgaria up with another at Aviva Stadium on Sunday night. Heimir Hallgrimsson is beginning to make his mark on a squad that has clear weaknesses, but his team played to their strengths on Thursday and should exploit similar situations again.

Bulgaria lack belief in themselves after years in the international doldrums so it was no surprise to see them relinquish their early lead in the first leg once the Irish put them under pressure.

Hallgrimsson has scraped enough creativity together with Robbie Brady on set pieces and Finn Azaz buzzing around in between the lines to give the team a chance of scoring goals at this level. And they have a couple of strong central defenders in Dara O’Shea and Nathan Collins that can see them through games without going under.

Lions are poor travellers

Azaz is having a good season at Middlesbrough, where he has registered double figures for goals and assists. He scored his team’s equaliser in Bulgaria and could be a key figure in the return game too.

The Lions are not great travellers and have managed to win only two games outside Bulgaria in their last 13 attempts – one of which was against Tanzania in Baku. Even a half full Aviva Stadium should provide enough encouragement for the Boys in Green to pull out a good enough performance for all three points.

Back the home side to win and a 2-0 correct score play looks a decent option with Bulgaria having failed to register in three of their last five away trips. Hallgrimsson’s side kept a clean sheet in their last home game and have yet to score more than twice in any game under the Icelandic coach.