Scotland v Greece: Match facts for Nations League decider

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The Celtic Star

·22 marzo 2025

Scotland v Greece: Match facts for Nations League decider

Scotland face Greece on Sunday evening as Steve Clarke’s side look to maintain their Group A status…

Scotland players during the national anthems Greece v Scotland, UEFA Nations League, Play-offs, First Leg, Football, Stadio Georgios Karaiskki, Athens, Greece – 20 March 2025. Photo Costas Baltas Shutterstock

After victory in Athens, Scotland are set up nicely going into the game but after the second half display from their opponents, Scotland will be wary.

OneFootball Video

Thanks to One Football, we have a collection of intriguing match facts ahead of the game.

Scott McTominay of Scotland celebrates scoring the opening goal with Anthony Ralston and other teammates Greece v Scotland, UEFA Nations League, Play-offs, First Leg, Football, Stadio Georgios Karaiskki, Athens, Greece – 20 Mar 2025. Photo Costas Baltas/Shutterstock

The only previous time Scotland have hosted Greece for an international match came in August 1995 in a UEFA European Championship qualifier, winning 1-0 at Hampden Park thanks to a goal from Ally McCoist.

In the previous meeting between these two sides this week, Greece attempted 24 shots and finished the game with 2.7xG. Indeed, while failing to score on the night, this was their highest xG total in a UEFA Nations League match to date.

Scott McTominay of Scotland celebrates scoring the opening goal, Greece v Scotland, UEFA Nations League, Play-offs, First Leg, Football, Stadio Georgios Karaiskki, Athens, Greece – 20 March 2025. Photo Costas Baltas Shutterstock

Scotland have lost just two of their last 22 competitive internationals on home soil (W15 D5), losing to Ukraine in June 2022 and Poland in September 2024.

Greece have won each of their last three away games, all in the UEFA Nations League. They haven’t won four away games in a row since October 2016, while in competitive internationals they last did so in September 2008.

Scotland players applaud the fans at full-time Greece v Scotland, UEFA Nations League, Play-offs, First Leg, Football, Stadio Georgios Karaiskki, Athens, Greece – 20 March 2025 Photo Costas Baltas Shutterstock

After a run of 10 competitive matches without managing a single victory between October 2023 and October 2024 (D4 L6), Scotland have won each of their last three such fixtures. If they win this game, they’ll already have as many competitive wins in 2025 (2) as they managed in 2024 (W2 D2 L5).

Since the start of 2023, Scott McTominay has averaged a goal every other game for Scotland, netting 11 goals in 22 appearances. Indeed, McTominay has netted exactly a third of his team’s goals across all competitions in this period (33% – 11/33).

Scotland starting line-up Greece v Scotland, UEFA Nations League, Play-offs, First Leg, Football, Stadio Georgios Karaiskki, Athens, Greece – 20 March 2025. Photo Costas Baltas Shutterstock

Vangelis Pavlidis has only scored in one of his last 19 appearances for Greece, although that was the last time he played for his country on British soil, netting a brace against England at Wembley last October.

John McGinn could make his 75th international appearance for Scotland in this game (currently on 74 caps), while he’d be just the sixth outfield player to reach this milestone (after Kenny Dalglish, Andy Robertson, Darren Fletcher, Alex McLeish, and Paul McStay).

Best of luck to Scotland. PS Celtic are back on Saturday!

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