North Macedonia host Scotland in the UEFA Nations League on October 3, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45 at the Toše Proeski Arena in Skopje. Both sides are looking for their first win of this Group B1 campaign: North Macedonia sit fourth after two defeats, while third-placed Scotland have one draw and one loss. Goals have been particularly hard to find. Neither team has scored in its opening two matches, making their search for a breakthrough central to this North Macedonia vs Scotland preview.

North Macedonia's Recent Form and Key Stats

North Macedonia followed a 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland with a 2-0 loss away to Slovenia on September 29. Their Nations League record stands at two defeats, with no goals scored and an average of 2.5 conceded per match. Across their last five fixtures, they have recorded two draws and three losses, scoring an average of 0.0 goals and conceding 1.8.

The longer run is no more encouraging: North Macedonia are winless in ten matches, with five draws and five defeats, and have lost their last three. They have not scored in six consecutive games and have drawn a blank in eight of their last ten. Home results offer a counterpoint, however. The hosts have lost only one of their previous 12 matches on their own ground, winning five and drawing six. That resilience gives them something to build on, even as the wait for a goal continues.

Enis Bardhi could make his 84th international appearance, while he and Eljif Elmas have scored 33 goals between them for North Macedonia. With the side's recent lack of goals, their contributions may be especially important. The match data also points to restrained scorelines: under 3.5 total goals have been recorded in North Macedonia's last ten Nations League matches. At the same time, their games have often featured a goal after the interval, including each of their last 13 at home.

Scotland's Recent Form and Key Stats

Scotland arrive after a 3-0 home defeat to Switzerland on September 29. They have taken one point from their first two Nations League fixtures, scoring no goals and conceding an average of 1.5 per match. Their last five games have brought one win, one draw and three defeats, with averages of 0.2 goals scored and 1.4 conceded.

The visitors have now gone four games without scoring and have failed to find the net in six of their last nine. They have also lost three matches in succession. Those figures underline the importance of ending their scoring drought, though their recent Nations League travel offers encouragement: Scotland won their last two away games in the competition.

John McGinn has contributed one goal and two assists across his last six appearances. Oliver McBurnie missed chances against Switzerland and will be hoping to score here, while captain Andrew Robertson could reach his 100th international cap. Scotland have led at half-time in six of their last ten away matches, but their current sequence without a goal makes another fast start far from certain.

North Macedonia vs Scotland Match Analysis

The most striking shared feature is the absence of goals: both teams have failed to score in their opening two Nations League games, and those problems extend beyond this campaign. North Macedonia's run of six consecutive blanks meets Scotland's four-match scoring drought. Each side therefore has a clear opportunity to change its recent record, but neither arrives with evidence of reliable finishing.

There are reasons not to overlook either team. North Macedonia's broader winless streak contrasts with a home record of just one defeat in 12 matches. Scotland have fared better in their last two Nations League away fixtures, despite entering this trip on three straight losses. The head-to-head record gives Scotland a narrow historical edge, with two wins, one draw and one defeat in four meetings. The most recent ended 2-1 to Scotland on September 10, 2013, so it offers limited guidance on the teams' present scoring difficulties.

Other trends add texture without settling the outcome. North Macedonia's last ten Nations League matches have stayed below four total goals, while 19 of their last 21 matches have featured at least one second-half goal. Their Nations League games have also produced fewer than 9.5 total corners in 18 of the last 20. For this fixture, though, the clearest theme remains whether either attack can break through. With both teams under pressure for a first group-stage win, one goal could have considerable weight.

North Macedonia vs Scotland prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (No) with 56% probability.