David Flower
Dailysports's expert
The first round of the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers will be played in Malaysia, where the local national team will host Nepal. I propose a bet on the outcome of this clash with good chances of success.
Match preview
The Malaysian national team failed to advance to the final stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, finishing third in the second stage, just one point behind Kyrgyzstan. After this setback, the team performed successfully in the Merdeka Cup, securing two victories over the Philippines (2-1) and Lebanon (1-0), which allowed them to win the tournament and regain confidence.
In the ASEAN Championship, the team collected five points in four matches, finishing third, trailing behind Thailand and Singapore. The team started with an away draw against Cambodia, followed by a home victory over East Timor (3-2). However, in the third round, away against Thailand, Malaysia couldn't withstand the hosts' onslaught and suffered a 0-1 defeat. In the decisive match, Malaysia drew with Singapore.
Last week, Nepal played their last match against Singapore. In the away clash, Nepal scored early in the match and secured a 1-0 victory. This win was their second consecutive in friendlies, as they defeated Afghanistan 2-0 at home in November.
In the second stage of the World Cup qualifiers, Nepal, in a group with the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen, managed only a draw in the last match against Yemen. As a result, the team finished last with 1 point, trailing 10 points behind Bahrain in second place.
Probable lineups
- Malaysia: Nadli, Lambert, Naigal, Piee, Raop, Parafita, Kutty, Aguero, Raymond, Rosli, Amir
- Nepal: Chedjong, Lama, Tamang, Chand, Basnet, Cherestha, Dangi, Limbu, Khawas, Gillespie, Bista
Match facts and head-to-head
- Last year, the teams played a friendly, and Malaysia won 5-1 at home
- Malaysia's winning streak counts five matches
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet hit in three out of five matches
Prediction
Bookmakers are fully siding with Malaysia in this match, offering odds of 1.10 for the favorite's victory. We believe the optimal bet is "Over 2.5 goals" with odds of 1.60.
