North Macedonia vs Scotland Predictions
North Macedonia host Scotland in Skopje on Saturday, with both sides looking for their first Nations League victory.
While both nations have struggled to pick up wins this year, I expect the Scots' greater quality to prevail in Skopje.
An away win is my best bet, while I also have a stake on a Scottish win to nil.
Scots to Claim Away Points
- North Macedonia lost their last 4 matches (competitive fixtures)
- North Macedonia failed to score in 8 of their last 10 matches
- Scotland won 2 of their last 3 matches against North Macedonia
- Scotland won 3 of their last 6 away matches (competitive fixtures)
Scotland Edge H2H Record
North Macedonia and Scotland have met on four previous occasions. Scotland won two of those games while North Macedonia secured one victory in 2008.
The Scots claimed a 2-1 win in their most recent encounter in Skopje 13 years ago.
North Macedonia Struggle for Goals
North Macedonia return to Skopje after a 2-0 defeat against Slovenia on Tuesday left them bottom of League B, Group 1.
Goce Sedloski's side held firm for the first half in Ljubljana before Sandi Lovric broke the deadlock. Aljosa Matko added a second to secure the points for the home side.
Slovenia were good value for their victory at Stozice Stadium. The hosts had more shots (16-9) and finished with a significantly higher xG total (1.97-0.68).
North Macedonia have now lost both of their first two Nations League fixtures, having slipped to a 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland in their first Group 1 fixture.
A dramatic dip in form has seen North Macedonia go ten matches without a win since October 2025. The hosts lost five of those fixtures, conceding 20 goals in the five defeats.
The Lions have also lacked quality in the final third, failing to score in their last seven matches. They scored just twice in their ten-game winless run.
Scotland Seek First Pocognoli Win
Scotland make the trip to Skopje after a miserable 3-0 defeat against Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday.
Jack Hendry’s 11th-minute red card for a professional foul proved fatal for the Scots. Ricardo Rodriguez scored from the resulting free-kick before goals from Nico Elvedi and Zeki Amdouni ensured a disastrous home debut for new boss Sebastien Pocognoli.
The out-of-form visitors have lost three of their last four matches without scoring a goal. Scotland had not failed to score in four successive fixtures since 1971.
Last weekend’s goalless draw in Slovenia had offered the Belgian head coach some encouragement. Scotland dominated after the interval in Ljubljana with 17 shots and an xG total of 2.16. Slovenia managed only four efforts and an xG of 0.45.
While wins have been hard to come by in 2026, Scotland have performed well on their European travels in the past two years.
The Scots claimed away victories against Belarus, Poland and Greece, and held Denmark to a goalless draw in Copenhagen during their successful World Cup qualifying campaign.
North Macedonia vs Scotland Squads & Team News
North Macedonia Squad
Goalkeepers: Stole Dimitrievski, Damjan Shishkovski, Davor Taleski
Defenders: Visar Musliu, Gjoko Zajkov, Bojan Ilievski, Andrej Stojchevski, Sebastian Herrera, Din Alomerovikj, Mario Mladenovski, Anes Meliqi, Gjorge Djekov
Midfielders: Enis Bardhi, Eljif Elmas, Tihomir Kostadinov, Jani Atanasov, Agon Elezi, Luka Stankovski, Matej Gashtarov
Forwards: Bojan Miovski, Ljupcho Doriev, Elmin Rastoder, Dimitar Mitrovski, Azer Omeragikj, Hristijan Maleski
Head coach Sedloski is likely to make several changes to his first XI. The North Macedonia boss made eight alterations to his side after last weekend’s defeat against Switzerland.
Enis Bardhi and Bojan Miovski are among those expected to earn recalls after coming off the bench in Ljubljana.
Scotland Squad
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly, Scott Bain, Jon McCracken
Defenders: Aaron Hickey, Andy Robertson, Luis Binks, Stephen Welsh, Josh Doig, Scott McKenna, Luke Graham, Nathan Patterson, Colby Donovan
Midfielders: John McGinn, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie, Lennon Miller, Josh McPake, Lewis Ferguson, Kristi Montgomery
Forwards: Oli McBurnie, Robbie Ure, Ben Gannon-Doak, Kieron Bowie
Scotland boss Pocognoli will be forced into at least one alteration this weekend. Jack Hendry misses out after his dismissal against Switzerland. Stephen Welsh is expected to deputise.
Ryan Christie and Robbie Ure could return if Pocognoli makes further changes to his selection.
Captain Andy Robertson is set to win his 100th international cap this weekend.
Scott McTominay, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean remain unavailable through injury.
Pocognoli praised his players’ response after Jack Hendry’s early dismissal against Switzerland:
“They (players) worked with 10 men for 80 minutes, maybe more; they showed great character to stick together for that time.
“It’s not easy against a good team to be with 10 men. It will be more about the reaction because we were so excited to start this first page of the book at home."
"We were ready to deliver the game we wanted from the first minute. We had an unlucky red card, punished with the free-kick; that’s the worst scenario.”