Finland vs Slovakia Predictions

• 10 of Finland’s last 12 games have contained under 2.5 goals.
• Slovakia have seen fewer than three goals scored in five of their last eight matches.
• Finland only scored multiple goals on two occasions in 2021, despite playing 14 games in the calendar year.

Friendly clash could be cagey

Neither Finland or Slovakia will be heading to the World Cup in Qatar, after both outfits finished third in tough qualification groups. As a result, Tuesday’s friendly, taking place in Murcia, Spain, could take on an experimental feel as both teams prepare for a new international cycle.

Finland drew 1-1 with Iceland on Saturday and have now won just four of their 15 games throughout 2021 and early 2022. The Finns have shown that they can trouble larger footballing nations, beating Denmark and holding Wales and Ukraine to draws in that time, but a lack of goals holds them back; they’ve failed to score in seven of those 15, and 10 of their last 11 games contained under 2.5 goals.

Slovakia, meanwhile, have proven inconsistent since Stefan Tarkovic took the reigns as head coach, winning six, drawing seven, and drawing six of their 19 games under him. Slovakia were beaten 2-0 by Norway on Friday, having also suffered shutout defeats to Russia, Croatia, Spain, and Sweden since last June. Five of their last eight matches have contained under 2.5 goals, with the exceptions being a 6-0 mauling of Malta and a couple of 2-2 draws.

Under 2.5 goals the smart play when tight Finns are involved

Given the lack of goals featuring in games containing Finland, as well as the inconsistency of both sides, backing them to play out a game featuring under 2.5 goals in unfamiliar surroundings looks the smart play, particularly as rotation is increased at the tail end of the international break.

Meanwhile, Slovakia did manage six draws throughout 2021, including creditable stalemates with Croatia and Austria, so a 1-1 draw could be a decent correct score prediction.