Preview: Scotland vs. Moldova - prediction, team news, lineups

Scotland will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat against Denmark with a victory, when they host Moldova for the fifth match of their World Cup Qualifying campaign in Group F.

Meanwhile, the visitors – ranked 175th in the FIFA world rankings – are searching for their first competitive win in 17 matches.

Match preview

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In what could prove to be Scotland's toughest Group F fixture, it was no real surprise to see their depleted squad beaten 2-0 in Denmark on Wednesday.

Two goals in the opening 15 minutes – separated by just 93 seconds – were scored by full-backs Daniel Wass and Joakim Maehle, condemning the Tartan Army to their first defeat in qualifying.

That result has seen the Scots slip down from second to fourth in their group, two points behind Israel and Austria, who have both moved above them with victories in midweek.

An encounter against European minnows Moldova on Saturday could not have come at a better time for Steve Clarke's side, who have claimed just one win from their last six international matches across all competitions.

In front of a raucous full house at Hampden Park, Scotland will be strong favourites to get back to winning ways against a side ranked 126 places below them in the FIFA world rankings.

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Scotland last qualified for a World Cup tournament back in 1998, the same year that Moldova competed in their first ever qualification campaign as an independent nation.

Roberto Bordin's side have, unsurprisingly, never qualified for a major international tournament in their 27-year history and have won just five of their 62 World Cup qualifiers.

The Selectionata currently sit bottom of Group F with one point from their first four matches, which was claimed in a 1-1 draw at home to the Faroe Islands in March.

Moldova's most recent match saw them lose 2-0 at home to Austria on Wednesday, with late goals at the end of each half from Christoph Baumgartner and Marko Arnautovic securing all three points for the visitors.

Qualifying for their first major tournament is unlikely, but Bordin's men can at least aim to finish above the foot of the table, something Moldova have only ever achieved twice before in their six previous World Cup qualification campaigns.

Team News

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Scotland were without eight players for their trip to Denmark in midweek, including James Forrest, Greg Taylor, Scott McTominay, Stuart Armstrong and Kevin Nisbet, who all remain out with injuries.

However, Clarke is expected to welcome John McGinn, Nathan Patterson and Stephen O'Donnell back into the fold after spells in isolation following coronavirus protocols.

The return of both Patterson and O'Donnell will please Clarke, who had no natural right-back for Wednesday's match, forcing him to start captain Andrew Robertson in this position before switching to Ryan Fraser during the match.

Robertson is set to return to left wing-back, pushing Kieran Tierney into the back-three alongside Liam Cooper and Grant Hanley.

Lyndon Dykes came on as a substitute against Denmark, but could be handed a start on Saturday up front alongside Che Adams.

As for Moldova, defender Igor Armas and midfielder Vadim Rata are back from suspension and will be in contention to start, though Ion Nicolaescu – who was sent off against Israel – is to serve the final game of his three-match suspension.

Goalkeeper Cristian Avram, who made his first competitive start for the national team against Austria, is set to keep the number one jersey, while defenders Ion Jardan, Veaceslav Posmac and Oleg Reabciuk are expected to remain in the back four.

Twenty-three-year-old striker Mihail Ghecev, who is yet to score in 12 appearances across all competitions for club and country this season, could lead the line again in attack, supported by wingers Sergiu Platica and Dan Spataru.

Scotland possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Cooper, Hanley, Tierney; O'Donnell, McGregor, Gilmour, Turnbull, Robertson; Dykes, Adams

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Avram; Jardan, Armas, Posmac, Reabciuk; Dros, Ionita; Platica, Ginsari, Spataru; Ghecev

We say: Scotland 2-0 Moldova

With the return of a few key players to the squad, Clarke will be confident that his Scotland side have enough quality to secure all three points on Saturday.

We are predicting the hosts will claim a routine victory at Hampden Park, as the visitors are unlikely to cause too many problems in the final third.