- Serbia U19 have won just one of their last five matches (L4).
- Croatia U19 have drawn one and lost one of their two UEFA EURO U19 Group B 2026 fixtures.
- The last two head-to-head meetings have seen both sides split the points 1-1.
Croatia U19 can win on the road in Serbia
Croatia U19 are 3rd in UEFA EURO U19 Group B 2026 with one point from two games, which is just enough to keep them in contention with one game remaining. Serbia U19 are already in hot water with no points from two matches, and are 4th in the group.
Serbia U19 are a front-loaded 4-3-3 formation who press high and try to win the ball back on their opponent's half, and then exploit space in behind with their three forwards. Petrić has pushed his team to "full gas" and we expect Serbia to turn the match into a transition war from the first whistle here.
Croatia U19 are a more structured side with more patience in possession and they like to play the ball through the middle at their own pace. They won't be able to get the most of that game plan in this fixture with a front three of attackers charging towards them, but their tempo control and ability to circulate the ball are strong.
Expect a scrappy contest between contrasting sides
The contrast between the sides will make for a classic matchup of playing styles. Croatia will want to control tempo, but Serbia will want chaos and turnovers. Serbia have lost four on the bounce coming into this game, so momentum is not in their favour.
Croatia U19 are 2.1 favourites, Serbia U19 are 3.46 and the draw is 3.67 at the time of writing, which is a bit of a surprise. The odds suggest a game with a few goals, and that may well be the case, but Croatia U19 or Draw is a much more attractive bet in the match result market.
There's an interesting side bet on both teams to score at 1.65, which could be very lucrative, and over 2.5 goals at 1.84, which is fair. However, Croatia U19 are unbeaten in their one away game in the tournament, so they're the slight edge in an away game on unfamiliar soil. The last head-to-head saw Croatia U19 win 4-1 at home in UEFA U19 Championship Qualification 2025/2026, a statement result.
