Scotland need a result at Hampden, and the opposition could not be much clearer. North Macedonia have lost all four Nations League games without scoring, and Sébastien Pocognoli already beat them 2‑0 in Skopje last month. Scott McTominay is back after a heart procedure, Ché Adams is back after injury, and 2/11 is short for a reason. We back Scotland to win, and we take them to score in both halves at 10/11.
| Pick | Odds | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| BEST BET: Scotland to score in both halves | 10/11 (bet365) | 1pt win |
| Win: Scotland to win | 2/11 (bet365) | 1pt win |
| Acca: England to win & BTTS, Scotland to score in both halves, BTTS in Spain v England | 5/1+ once the Madrid leg is added; price TBC | 0.5pt win |
| Bet Builder: Scotland to win, North Macedonia not to score, over 1.5 goals | price on bet365 Bet Builder | 0.5pt win |
| Card: Over 3.5 cards in the match | price TBC | 0.5pt win |
Prices checked at 11:40 UK on Thursday 12 November, from an aggregator’s bet365 column and a Flashscore preview that listed those bet365 markets. Our other international previews this week are England v Croatia and Spain v England.
Scotland v North Macedonia Prediction & Team News
Kick-off: 7.45pm (UK), Friday 13 November, Barclays Hampden, Glasgow. TV: BBC Two and BBC Scotland, with coverage from 7.30pm, as listed by the BBC; the Scottish FA lists it on BBC Two Scotland. Competition: UEFA Nations League, League B Group B1.
Team news
Scotland: Scott McTominay is back after missing the last camp following a heart procedure in Manchester, and spoke this week about being “much, much better” and excited to play again. Ché Adams, who won his 50th cap at the World Cup, also returns after missing the earlier Nations League matches through injury. There have been two changes in central defence from the original squad: Stephen Welsh and Luis Binks have dropped out through injury and have been replaced by Ryan Porteous, last capped in March 2025, and David Bates, who has not played for Scotland since 2019. Pocognoli called McTominay a leader the side needs, and said these two games matter if Scotland are to be ready for the March window.
North Macedonia: An official squad update and confirmed absences were not available on the pages checked at the time of writing. They have lost all four group games, failed to score, and have conceded 10.
Predicted line-ups
Scotland (predicted): Gunn; Porteous, Hendry, Bates; Gannon-Doak, Ferguson, McTominay, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Adams.
North Macedonia (predicted): A confirmed or widely reported starting XI was not available at the time of writing, so we are not naming one.
Form (Nations League)
Scotland: D 0‑0 Slovenia (a), L 0‑3 Switzerland (h), W 2‑0 North Macedonia (a), L 1‑2 Slovenia (h).
North Macedonia: L 0‑3 Switzerland (h), L 0‑2 Slovenia (a), L 0‑2 Scotland (h), L 0‑3 Switzerland (a).
Key stats & head-to-head
- Group B1 after four games: Switzerland 12 points, Slovenia 7, Scotland 4, North Macedonia 0. The group winners go up to League A. Runners-up go into the League A/B play-offs. Third stay in League B; fourth go into the League B/C play-offs.
- The Scottish FA says two wins in this window will likely be required if Scotland are to have a chance of the promotion play-off places, with a trip to Switzerland in St Gallen on Monday.
- North Macedonia have not scored in the group and have conceded 10 goals. Scotland have scored three times in four games, two of them in Skopje last month through Kieron Bowie and John McGinn.
- The sides have met five times before, with Scotland winning three, drawing one and losing one. The only defeat was 1‑0 away in 2009, in the first meeting. The last game in Glasgow was a 1‑1 draw in 2012. James McFadden scored in a 2‑0 win at Hampden in 2009, and Shaun Maloney’s late free-kick won the 2013 meeting in Skopje.
Verdict & prediction
This is the one Scotland have to take. North Macedonia have not laid a glove on this group, and Pocognoli already has a 2‑0 win over them on the board.
It is not a gimme just because the price is 2/11. Scotland have been patchy: a 0‑3 home defeat to Switzerland, a lead thrown away against Slovenia at Hampden, and only three goals in four matches. A new-look centre-back line of Porteous and Bates is untried in this campaign, and McTominay is back after a procedure, not after a routine rest.
Even so, the visitors have offered nothing in four games, Hampden should get behind a side with its leaders back, and Scotland ought to have too much quality in midfield and attack. Get in front early, and the 10/11 on scoring in both halves is the more interesting way of playing it than the skinny match odds.
Prediction: Scotland 2‑0 North Macedonia.
WIN
BEST BET: Scotland to score in both halves | 10/11 · bet365
Scotland scored in both halves when they beat these opponents 2‑0 in Skopje, through Bowie early and McGinn’s penalty after the break. North Macedonia have not scored in the group and have shipped 10 goals. The risk is another slow Hampden night like the blanks against Switzerland, or a single-goal squeeze.
WIN
Scotland to win | 2/11 · bet365
The home side should win this. North Macedonia are bottom, goalless and already well beaten by Scotland once. The price is short because of that, and because Scotland have dropped five points at Hampden already in this group. It is a banker for the acca more than a stand-alone bet.
WIN
Acca: England to win & BTTS, Scotland to score in both halves, BTTS in Spain v England | 5/1+ once the Madrid leg is added; price TBC
The first two legs were listed at 7/4 and 10/11 with bet365 and combine to just under 5/1. Add both teams to score in Madrid on Sunday and the acca should clear 5/1; take the combined price on bet365. The risk is a clean sheet at Wembley tonight, a flat first half at Hampden, or a tight Sunday night in Spain.
WIN
Bet Builder: Scotland to win, North Macedonia not to score, over 1.5 goals | price on bet365 Bet Builder
North Macedonia have not scored in four group games, and Scotland already kept them out in Skopje. Over 1.5 goals just asks Scotland to be as clinical as they were that night. Build it on bet365 Bet Builder and take the price there. The risk is a single Scotland goal, or the visitors finally getting on the scoresheet.
WIN
Over 3.5 cards in the match | price TBC
Scotland have to win, and North Macedonia are likely to spend long spells defending a one-sided game. No readable bet365 card price was available today, so take the price on the site. The risk is a comfortable, low-foul home win that never turns scrappy.
Our Selections
BEST BET: Scotland to score in both halves
Game: Scotland v North Macedonia
Kick-off (UK): Fri 13 Nov, 7.45pm
Odds (bet365): 10/11
Stake: 1pt win
Scotland to win
Game: Scotland v North Macedonia
Kick-off (UK): Fri 13 Nov, 7.45pm
Odds (bet365): 2/11
Stake: 1pt win
Acca: England to win & BTTS, Scotland to score in both halves, BTTS in Spain v England
Game: England v Croatia / Scotland v North Macedonia / Spain v England
Kick-off (UK): Thu 12 Nov, 7.45pm; Fri 13 Nov, 7.45pm; Sun 15 Nov, 7.45pm
Odds (bet365): 5/1+ once the Madrid leg is added; price TBC
Stake: 0.5pt win
Bet Builder: Scotland to win, North Macedonia not to score, over 1.5 goals
Game: Scotland v North Macedonia
Kick-off (UK): Fri 13 Nov, 7.45pm
Odds (bet365): price on bet365 Bet Builder
Stake: 0.5pt win
Over 3.5 cards in the match
Game: Scotland v North Macedonia
Kick-off (UK): Fri 13 Nov, 7.45pm
Odds (bet365): price TBC
Stake: 0.5pt win
FAQ
What time is Scotland v North Macedonia?
It kicks off at 7.45pm (UK) on Friday 13 November at Barclays Hampden in Glasgow.
What channel is Scotland v North Macedonia on?
The BBC lists it live on BBC Two and BBC Scotland, with coverage from 7.30pm. The Scottish FA lists it on BBC Two Scotland.
Is Scott McTominay playing?
He is back in the squad after a heart procedure and spoke this week about being much better and eager to play. Whether he starts will be confirmed closer to kick-off; our predicted line-up has him in midfield.
What is your Scotland v North Macedonia prediction?
Scotland 2-0 North Macedonia. Our Best Bet is Scotland to score in both halves at 10/11 with bet365.
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