Russia vs Slovakia Predictions

• Six of the last eight Russia games have featured fewer than three goals.
• Six of the last eight Slovakia games have featured fewer than three goals.
• Russian starting wingers Roman Zobnin and Denis Cheryshev are out, together with top scorer Artem Dzyuba.

Goals may elude injury-ravaged Russia 

Russia are going to be without several key attacking players through injury for their crucial World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Slovenia this month.

Wingers Roman Zobnin and Denis Cheryshev are out, top scorer Artem Dzyuba refused the invitation to join up because he is not in his best condition and playmaker Alexander Golovin is a doubt after picking up a knock in Monaco’s last game.

Valery Karpin has been left to build a forward line around Fyodor Smolov and his line-up will probably lack experience with teenager Arsen Zakharyan tipped to earn his third senior cap.

Slovakia are a solid defensive unit, but lack a focal point in attack. They failed to score in Cyprus right at the start of qualifying, but did get a couple at home to the group minnows last month.

The Falcons managed a 2-1 win over Russia back in March that went against the grain because four of the five prior contests between these countries didn’t produce more than a single goal.

And with the hosts depleted, we don’t expect this to be a high-scoring affair either.

Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of the last eight games for each side and the odds on offer for it to happen again look fair.

Russia, with a full strength line-up, would probably win this, but we can’t commit to them in their current state and particularly without Dzyuba, who even some of the better defenders struggle to handle.

Russia have won four of their lats six home games, though, so we will venture a 1-0 home win correct score prediction which also takes into account Slovakia’s record of seldom conceding more than once.