Serbia vs Hungary Betting Preview EURO Qualifying Matchday Five

We officially have our first international break of the domestic campaign this week, with the Euro 2020 qualifying continuing with the tournament set for next summer. On matchday five there’s a plethora of intriguing clashes to keep tabs on, but here, we’ll preview a match between Serbia and Hungary, who both sit at the top of Group G for the time being. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:45 PM ET at Red Star Stadium in Belgrade on Thursday, September 7th. Below, we’ll look at the odds for the game, discuss H2H history, and dive into the recent form for the Serbs and Hungarians.

History Between Serbia, Hungary

There is minimal history between these two, with their only three meetings coming in the last three years. Hungary ran out 1-0 winners in the UEFA Nations League in 2020 before they played to a 1-1 draw a year later. Then last March, the Serbs prevailed 2-1 in an international friendly.

Serbia in Good Form

Serbia struggled in the 2022 World Cup, failing to progress to the knockout stages after finishing at the bottom of Group G with a mere one point. That was considered a massive disappointment for a side with no shortage of talent, but the Serbs have looked good since leaving Qatar earlier than expected. The Eagles are unbeaten in five games since their matchday three defeat to Switzerland in the Middle East. 

The Serbs have notched wins over the US, Lithuania, Montenegro, and Jordan while settling for a 1-1 stalemate with Bulgaria on matchday four of Euro qualifying on June 20th. At the moment, Serbia has seven points through four qualifying games and looks to be on track to be in next summer’s competition. In fact, they haven’t been in the European Championships since 2000, finishing as quarterfinalists. That means the Serbs have missed five tournaments in a row. Certainly not ideal. Regardless, they’re considered a stronger squad than Hungary, hence the -130 odds at 888sport for Thursday.

Hungary Looking to Make Third Euro in a Row

It’s been a very, very long time since Hungary made the World Cup, last appearing in 1986. Considering how difficult it is to get out of the European qualification for the biggest tournament on the globe, it’s not surprising. But when it comes to the Euros, this could be their third appearance in a row next year if the Hungarians can continue to produce the goods in qualifying. The Tricolors have tasted defeat just once in their last seven outings dating back to June of 2022, notching some very impressive wins during that span.

Hungary hammered England 4-0 in Nations League action while also shocking Germany. As for this competition, they’ve beaten Lithuania and Bulgaria while playing to a scoreless draw with Montenegro. The Hungarians have scored five times and have yet to concede. However, the Serbs will be difficult, especially considering their confidence in recent months. Also, playing in Belgrade is a very hostile environment, which is probably part of the reason most soccer betting sites have them as a bit of an underdog on matchday five. But, a win here would propel them to the top of the group heading into the next international break in October, where they lock horns with Serbia again, this time on Hungarian soil.