After the failure against Greece, Serbia will try to stop Xavi's revamped team. Serbia vs Netherlands prediction
On Sunday, September 27, Serbia and the Netherlands will meet in the second round of League A of the UEFA Nations League. The match will be held at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 Central European Time. I am backing the goal total in this game.
- Read also: Can Germany Return to Winning Ways Against Greece? Germany vs Greece Prediction | September 27, 2026
H2H and statistical facts
- Serbia have lost three games in a row and have conceded in each of their last ten matches.
- The Netherlands have conceded in nine consecutive matches.
- The Netherlands scored first in five of their previous six matches.
- These teams have never met before.
Serbia
Serbia made the worst possible start to the tournament in terms of the result. Veljko Paunović's side opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Andrija Živković, but after the break they allowed Greece to turn the match around. Christos Tzolis equalized in the 74th minute, while Anastasios Douvikas scored the winner in stoppage time. Serbia were playing at home and had the chance to preserve their lead, but failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
The Serbian squad still boasts plenty of high-level players. Dušan Tadić has been called up after a two-year absence from the national team, alongside Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saša Lukić, Filip Kostić, Andrija Živković and Luka Jović.
However, Serbia's squad situation is far from ideal. Aleksandar Mitrović, Nikola Milenković, Dušan Vlahović and Predrag Rajković were left out of the squad through injury. The loss of Milenković is particularly significant, as he is one of the team's key defenders.
Another problem for Serbia is the need to quickly regroup after the defeat. Against Greece, the team started the match well but began to lose control after the break and ultimately conceded twice. Their next opponent will demand much more in terms of ball possession and attacking transitions. Home advantage could help Serbia, but they will have to improve significantly after the opening round if they want to retain a realistic chance of challenging for the top spots in the group.
Netherlands
The Netherlands played their first match under Xavi and immediately faced a serious test against Germany. The Dutch fell behind after Felix Nmecha's goal but refused to give up, equalizing through Cody Gakpo in stoppage time. The 1-1 draw can be considered an important result for the new coach, especially given that Xavi is only beginning to reshape the national team according to his own ideas.
The Netherlands have a wealth of options in terms of personnel. Xavi has kept captain Virgil van Dijk in the team, while Gakpo was the main source of danger in attack in the opening match. Reijnders and Brian Brobbey also deserve attention.
At the same time, the Dutch have also suffered injuries. Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen were initially included in the squad despite their injuries. Another problem is Brobbey's injury: he picked up a knock against Germany and was forced to leave the field.
The main question ahead of the match in Belgrade is how quickly the Netherlands can adapt to the new playing model. Xavi is relying on intensity and initiative, while the first match showed that the team is capable of fighting until the final whistle. Serbia will certainly offer a more physical style of football, but if the Netherlands can control the midfield and consistently get the ball into attacking areas, the visitors will have good opportunities to create chances.
Probable lineups
- Serbia: Vanja Milinković-Savić, Kostić, Pavlović, Eraković, Simić, Maksimović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Živković, Cvetković, Jović, Tadić.
- Netherlands: Verbruggen, Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven, Gravenberch, Quinten Timber, Reijnders, Gakpo, Summerville, Meerdink.
What to bet on?
The opening round showed that both teams are still far from their best. Serbia have significant squad potential and home advantage, but the defeat to Greece exposed their problems in protecting a lead. The Netherlands, by contrast, have already shown character against Germany, although their attacking injuries could affect their efficiency. A tight match is expected, and I recommend betting on under 3.5 total goals.
