Czech Republic vs Slovakia Predictions

Slovakia impressed when thumping group leaders Ukraine on Thursday night, though they’ll need to do better than when losing in the reverse of this fixture to come out on top here. The Czech’s beat Poland in a friendly on Thursday, so they ought to come into this home match feeling upbeat. The fact that they got the better of Slovakia away from home should add to the confidence of Jaroslav Šilhavý’s men.

Last time out, the Czech’s weren’t in action in the UEFA Nations League, but there was plenty to like about the way they performed in their friendly against a decent Poland. The Poles are not an easy team to face, especially on their own patch, so the way in which Jaroslav Šilhavý’s side forced the issue and got their heads in front was impressive. Their defensive efforts weren’t impeccable, but they did more than enough at the other end to come out on top.

However, in this competition, Czech Republic have struggled to hit such heights. They’ve lost two of their three matches in League B, and although they did get the better of Slovakia in the reverse fixture, they were somewhat fortunate to do so. On a good day, they’re useful going forward, as their expected goals for figures of 2.27 against Poland and 1.68 against the Slovaks suggest, though they’re not secure at the back. As things stand, Monday’s hosts are conceding an average of 1.82 expected goals.

Overall, Slovakia have looked a bit better at the back than their opponents on Monday, though it would be wrong to say that they’re solid at the back. The visitors are giving up an average of 1.29 expected goals in this competition, while they’re yet to keep a clean sheet. Pavel Hapal’s men even conceded when cruising to victory against Ukraine last time out.

Fortunately, the visitors have something about them in the final third, as they proved when scoring four against group leaders Ukraine last time out. They may have failed to come out on top against the Czech’s in the reverse fixture, but they didn’t find it tough to create opportunities, as the fact that they racked up 2.02 expected goals suggests. With the hosts still looking a bit shaky at the back, Hapal’s side should fancy themselves to compete from an offensive point of view on Monday.

At the prices, what with both teams looking like they could hurt each other, the bet that stands out is ‘Over 2.5 Goals’. When the pair met in the reverse fixture, they shared a rather sizeable 3.7 expected goals, while neither have looked shy in coming forward since, nor have they looked like keeping teams out at the other end.