UEFA Nations League: Who Has the A Game Between Serbia and Austria?

Serbia vs Austria

A place in the UEFA Nations League A is up for grabs on Sunday when Serbia and Austria renew hostilities at the Crvena Zvezda Stadium in Belgrade.

While all eyes are on the trophy hunting quarter-finalists, such as European champions Spain and the Netherlands, this clash. This clash between Serbia and Austria is a high stakes tie between two nations with ambitions to be amongst the big guns in Europe.

Austria finished second in Group B3, and they have been upwardly mobile in recent years, while Serbia, a nation to be taken deadly seriously, finished third in Group A4. The first leg on Thursday night at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna ended 1-1, so this tie is nicely in the balance and, whichever team shows up in Belgrade will take the prize.

Former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has overseen Austria for over two years, and his nation is progressing nicely under his guidance. He’s a meticulous planner and has his team on message.

Meanwhile, Serbia boss Dragan Stojkovic has been in the job since 2021, and he has established the relatively new nation as a force to be reckoned with. According to the latest UEFA Nations League 2025 betting odds, Sunday’s second leg should be a cracker.

 

Talking Points

Serbia do a smash and grab in the first leg

If the UEFA Nations League 2025 highlights look anything like the action from the first leg in Vienna, it is going to be a tense night in Belgrade. At the halfway stage, Stojkovic’s side will be the happier of the two as they withstood an all-out assault from the Austrians, who had 69-per cent possession, 24 shots to eight, and four to one on target.

It looked like a regulation home win when Marko Arnautovic headed down and Michael Gregoritsch smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. But as the hosts flooded forward in search of a second, which would put them firmly in charge of the tie, Serbia hit them with a sucker punch. The visitors hit back midway through the second half when Lazar Samardzic fired a screamer from distance into the top right corner.

While Austria had passed the ball around in slick movements, Serbia were happy to go long, and I predict a similar pattern in the second leg, through not as clear, with the Serbians trying to exert some control early in the game. If Stojkovic’s men can get an early lead, then they will defend deeply and try to hit Austria on the break. It’s going to be a nervy affair, and the first goal is crucial.  

 

Players to watch out for

Atalanta’s Lazar Samardzic stole the headlines on Thursday night with a howitzer of a strike which flew into the top corner to take the wind out of Austria’s sails. It could be a turning point in a tie which looked to be heading the hosts’ way. If Serbia can get a foothold in the game in Belgrade, they do have firepower up front in the shape of Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus and Luka Jovic of AC Milan. But Stojkovic will expect another Austrian onslaught, and experienced Sevilla centre-back Nemanja Gudelj will be a key figure in defence.

Austria sit 22^nd in the FIFA World Rankings, 10 places ahead of Serbia in 32^nd, and they have plenty of quality in their team, led by Real Madrid defender David Alaba. They are missing the injured Marcel Sabitzer, who has 20 goals in 87 caps, and much of the creative work is on the shoulders of RB Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner, who has 18 goal from 48 internationals.

Anther man to watch is Wolfsburg’s flying winger Patrick Wimmer, who announced himself at Euro 2024. At 23 years of age, he’s an exciting prospect.  

 

History

Austria have a strong record and were in the World Cup semi-finals in 1954. And they reached the Round of 16 of the European Championships for the second tournament in succession last year. Meanwhile, in the post-Yugoslavia era, Serbia reached the European Championships in 2024 following on from their third World Cup finals appearance in 2022.  

In terms of recent form, Serbia had won one, drawn four and lost two of the last seven games, while Austria have a slight edge and have won three, drawn three, and lost one. 

 

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 2.65, Austria are slight favourites to navigate this tie and take their place in the top league, but it’s a close one to call with Serbia at 2.90, and Rangnick’s team will have to work very hard to win.    

   

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