Russia vs Slovenia Predictions

• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in six of Russia’s last 11 home matches.
• Slovenia are unbeaten in nine games, conceding just one goal during that sequence.
• Six of Slovenia’s last nine matches have seen under 2.5 goals scored.

Sochi set for tense battle

Russia made a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign by triumphing 3-1 in Malta on Wednesday and that brought what had been a six-match winless run to an end.

Goals have been an issue for Stanislav Cherchesov’s side of late, as they have failed to net in three of their last five, while six of their previous 11 home fixtures have seen under 2.5 goals scored.

Slovenia caused a shock in their opening World Cup qualifier, as they defeated 2018 finalists Croatia 1-0 in Ljubljana on Wednesday.

That victory extended Slovenia’s unbeaten run to nine matches, during which time they secured promotion to League B of the UEFA Nations League.

Head coach Matjaz Kek has built that success on a solid defence, as Slovenia have conceded just once in nine matches, while six of those games have seen under 2.5 goals scored.

It could be a similar story in Sochi on Saturday, as we are predicting under 2.5 goals in the match, although we are stopping short of predicting a Slovenia win, as they have never previously triumphed in Russia.

Indeed, our overall score prediction is for a goalless draw, a result that has occurred in two of Russia’s last five fixtures and in two of Slovenia’s previous four.