Germany risk missing out on the playoffs: Serbia vs Germany prediction
The UEFA Nations League fifth-round clash between Serbia and Germany will take place on November 13, 2026, at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade. The hosts have lost all four of their matches and sit bottom of League A Group 2 without a point. Germany are third on five points, three behind the Netherlands and Greece, making victory almost essential if they are to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
Serbia: prolonged crisis leaves the team on the brink of elimination
Serbia have endured a disastrous group campaign, losing in succession to Greece (1-2), the Netherlands (1-2), Germany (0-2) and the Dutch again (1-2). Veljko Paunović’s side have suffered six straight defeats across all competitions and have managed just one win since late 2025. Even a third-place finish in the group now looks like a tall order.
Squad issues further complicate the hosts’ task. Sasha Lukić and Nemanja Maksimović will miss the match through suspension, weakening the midfield. Serbia’s main attacking hopes rest on Aleksandar Mitrović, who could make his 107th appearance for the national team, and young Mihajlo Cvetković.
Germany: victory is vital to keep the campaign alive
Germany have unexpectedly run into serious trouble in this Nations League campaign. Jürgen Klopp’s team opened with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, then lost 0-1 to Greece, beat Serbia 2-0 and dropped points again in a 0-0 draw with the Greeks. Die Mannschaft have scored just three goals in four rounds, well below what their attacking firepower would suggest.
Ahead of the trip to Belgrade, the coaching staff will be counting on Kai Havertz, who has scored 25 goals for the national team, and Florian Wirtz. Youngsters Said El Mala and Lennart Karl could also get the chance to make their mark. Marc-André ter Stegen remains the first-choice goalkeeper, while Philipp Trew, Malick Thiaw and Yann Bisseck are all one booking away from suspension.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Serbia have lost all four of their Nations League group-stage matches, with a combined goal difference of 3:8
- Germany have taken five points from four rounds, recording one win, two draws and one defeat
- Germany beat Serbia 2-0 in their previous meeting
Visitors must exploit their opponents’ weakness: Serbia vs Germany prediction
Germany have yet to deliver the scoring output expected of them, but they have the edge over Serbia in both squad quality and organisation. Victory is crucial for Klopp’s side, as dropping points again would leave their quarter-final hopes hanging by a thread.
Serbia will look to make home advantage count, but their prolonged losing streak and the absence of two midfielders make the task even tougher. Germany’s superior individual quality should help the visitors secure the result they need.
