Israel and Kosovo meet in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, October 1, with both sides looking to recover from defeats on September 27. The Group B3 fixture takes place at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45 local time. Israel have lost both of their opening matches and sit fourth without a point, while second-placed Kosovo have three points from a win and a defeat. A 3-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland has left Israel searching for their first result of the campaign. Kosovo, beaten 3-1 by Austria after an opening win over Ireland, have an opportunity to strengthen their position against opponents who have conceded six goals in two Nations League games.

Israel's Recent Form and Key Stats

Israel enter this match after losing 3-0 to the Republic of Ireland on September 27. They have started their UEFA Nations League campaign with two defeats, averaging 0.5 goals scored and 3.0 conceded per match. Their six goals conceded across the opening two rounds are the immediate concern ahead of Kosovo's visit.

The wider picture is mixed. Israel's last five matches have produced two wins, one draw and two defeats, with averages of 1.6 goals scored and 1.8 conceded. Their Nations League results, however, have been less encouraging: they have lost six of their last eight matches in the competition. Israel have also avoided a draw in 19 of their last 20 matches across all competitions, a run that underlines how rarely their recent games have finished level.

There are timing trends to consider as well. Israel have trailed at half-time in 11 of their last 18 UEFA Nations League matches, while 26 of their last 29 matches have featured at least one goal in the second half. Neither statistic determines what will happen on Thursday, but both add context to a team trying to respond after back-to-back defeats in this group. Although Israel are the designated home side, the fixture will be played in Debrecen rather than in Israel.

Kosovo's Recent Form and Key Stats

Kosovo began their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ireland, but could not follow it with another positive result. Austria beat them 3-1 on September 27, leaving Kosovo with one win and one defeat after two rounds. Their campaign averages stand at 1.0 goal scored and 1.5 conceded per match.

The visitors' last five matches have brought two wins and three defeats. Across those games, they have averaged 1.2 goals both scored and conceded, so their recent form offers reasons for caution despite their stronger start to Group B3. A more promising figure comes from their away record: Kosovo have won six of their last 10 away games. They have also led at half-time in six of their last 10 away matches and in six of their last 10 UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Like Israel, Kosovo have rarely shared the points in this competition. They have not drawn any of their last 17 UEFA Nations League matches. That run makes their response to the Austria defeat particularly interesting: an opening victory gave them three points, but a second consecutive loss would quickly undo that advantage. A positive result against Israel would instead help them maintain their place near the top of Group B3.

Israel vs Kosovo Match Analysis

The contrast in the opening two rounds shapes this Israel vs Kosovo preview. Israel are still seeking their first point and have conceded an average of three goals per game; Kosovo have already recorded a win, though Austria showed they are also vulnerable to defeat. Israel's two wins in their last five matches suggest they cannot be judged solely by their Nations League start, while Kosovo's three defeats over the same span prevent their away record from telling the whole story.

The head-to-head record gives the visitors another modest advantage. Across two previous meetings with Israel, Kosovo have one win and one draw; the most recent encounter, on November 12, 2023, finished 1-0. Israel have averaged 0.5 goals scored and 1.0 conceded in those meetings. It is a small sample, but it adds to the case for Kosovo as they seek to bounce back from the Austria result.

Goals remain a consideration on both sides of this matchup. Israel have scored in their recent five-match run at an average of 1.6 per game, yet their Nations League average this campaign is only 0.5. Kosovo scored once against Austria after keeping Ireland scoreless in their opener. The supplied estimates put both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 58% each, but the clearest match-result argument rests on Israel's two opening defeats, Kosovo's away wins and the visitors' unbeaten head-to-head record. Kosovo still need an improved performance after conceding three to Austria, making this a contest with opportunities and risks for both teams.

Israel vs Kosovo prediction from BetMines: Kosovo win (2) with 42% probability.