Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Predictions

• Northern Ireland won just two of their last 10 games.
• Slovakia won just two of their last 13 matches on the road.
• Northern Ireland scored exactly one goal in four of their last six games, while Slovakia notched once in five of their last nine.

Tight contest anticipated in Belfast

Northern Ireland are potentially just 90 minutes away from reaching the European Championship for only the second time in their history, though Ian Baraclough’s robust Green and White Army must overcome a classy Slovakia side on Thursday to reached the promised land.

Both Northern Ireland and Slovakia needed penalties to reach the Euro 2020 play-off final after keenly contested semi-final skirmishes, and the evidence suggests Thursday’s Final should be just as attritional.

Štefan Tarkovič’s Slovakia outfit look the stronger side on paper, though the Falcons’ record of just two wins in 13 fixtures on the road points to a weakness that Northern Ireland will hope to exploit.

The hosts have won just twice in 10 matches since September last year however, and with confidence at a low ebb and so much riding on Thursday’s result, we expect Baraclough to adopt a safety-first approach.

With both sides desperate to avoid mistakes, this week’s game promises to be a slow burner, and we think there is a chance that the tie could be taken all the way to penalties again.

As a result, the draw looks a favourable position to take for Thursday’s play-off, while a 1-1 correct score prediction is also advised. Northern Ireland notched exactly once in four of their last six assignments, while Slovakia registered exactly once in five of their last nine international tests.

With goal-scorers in short supply on both sides, a single goal apiece looks close to the upper limit of the teams’ attacking capabilities in Belfast.