This preview focuses on a match where Serbia hosts Latvia for the final matchday of the World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, in what is largely a dead-rubber encounter. The match, set for Sunday, 16th November 2025, at the Gradski stadion Dubočica in Leskovac, sees both teams eliminated from contention for the top two spots in Group K. Serbia’s hopes were dashed by a 2-0 defeat to England at Wembley, while Latvia has been playing only for pride for some time.
Despite the low stakes regarding qualification, this match preview highlights a match with clear betting angles. Serbia, under new boss Veljko Paunovic, will be desperate to end their campaign on a high, snap a two-game losing streak at home, and potentially secure a playoff spot via their Nations League ranking. For Latvia, it’s a final chance to salvage some pride after a winless run and a recent 5-0 drubbing by England.
Serbia vs Latvia Match Preview
Team Recent Form
- Serbia: L W L L W
- Latvia: D L D L L
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Key Stats
- Latvia are on a dismal run, failing to win any of their last eight international matches.
- Serbia are struggling for goals at home, aiming to avoid a third consecutive home match without finding the back of the net.
Correct Score Prediction
Our prediction is a 2-0 win for Serbia.
Even without key players, Serbia possesses far more quality than their opponents. Latvia’s attack is one of the weakest in European qualifying, having scored just four goals in seven group games. Furthermore, the visitors are now missing two key defensive players to suspension. Serbia won the reverse fixture 1-0, and while they are missing their star striker Aleksandar Mitrović, Dusan Vlahovic has the quality to breach a weakened Latvian defence. Expect a professional, if unspectacular, home win and a clean sheet. Find competitive odds for this scoreline on Betano.
Serbia vs Latvia H2H
- These two nations have met only once in this qualifying cycle.
- Serbia won the reverse fixture 1-0 in Riga on September 6, 2025.
- Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic scored the only goal in that encounter.
- This will be Latvia’s first competitive match on Serbian soil since Serbia gained independence.
Pre-Game Odds
- Serbia Win: 1.24
- Draw: 6.91
- Latvia Win: 15.50
(Odds are subject to change and were correct at the time of writing. Check Betano for the latest odds.)
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Team News Serbia
Serbia has been hit with two significant blows. All-time record goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrović remains unavailable due to injury. Worse, Torino midfielder Ivan Ilic suffered a serious knee injury in the midweek loss to England and has been ruled out. Udinese’s Lazar Samardzic is expected to take his place in the starting XI.
Team News Latvia
Latvia’s task is made harder by a pair of suspensions in defence. Captain Antonijs Cernomordijs and defender Andrejs Ciganiks are both banned for this match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Vitalijs Jagodinskis and Maksims Tonisevs are the most likely replacements as the team shuffles its backline.
Predicted Lineups
- Serbia Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Rajkovic; Mimovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Gudelj, Lukic, Kostic; Samardzic, Terzic; Vlahovic
- Latvia Predicted Lineup (5-4-1): Zviedris; Savalnieks, Balodis, Jagodinskis, Jurkovskis, Tonisevs; Ikaunieks, Zelenkovs, Vapne, Daskevics; Gutkovskis
Serbia vs Latvia Betting Tips
Based on the form, team news, and head-to-head data, here are our top three tips for this match, all of which you can place on Betano.
- Tip 1 – Result: Serbia to Win
- Tip 2 – Over/Under 2.5 goals: Under 2.5 goals
- Tip 3 – Both Teams to Score: No
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Disclaimer: The betting tips and predictions provided in this article are based on the author’s expert analysis and available data. However, sports betting involves risk, and there are no guarantees of profit. Please gamble responsibly.
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