Slovenia vs Macedonia Predictions

This Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier is a local derby of sorts between two sides who used to be part of the same country. There isn’t a great deal of bad blood between Slovenia and Macedonia though so this one should go off peacefully unlike some other clashes between former Yugoslav nations. It is a significant game though between two sides with ambitions of reaching the Euros.

Macedonia are one of the most improved sides in European international football. They picked up some impressive results towards the end of their World Cup qualifying campaign including a draw away to Italy. They went on to win their Nations League group to secure a play-off slot at the very least and they might just fancy they can get out of their European Championship qualifying group with no real giants in it.

Poland are the favourites to win it but Slovenia will expect to be there or thereabouts too. They kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw in Israel, a fourth straight 1-1 draw for them in all competitions. They head into this game under a bit of pressure to get the result against a Macedonia side that started their campaign with a 3-1 win at home to Latvia.

Overall, there looks to be value in backing the visitors to get a result here. Macedonia top this group after match-day one and they’ve only lost 1 of their last 14 international matches. Going further back, it’s just 2 defeats in 18 since the end of 2016 and that’s a cracking record for a side of no serious international pedigree. They’ve risen to 71st in the FIFA rankings, just 8 places below their opponents here.

Slovenia have been struggling to turn draws into victories of late. They failed to win any of their Nations League matches despite a relatively favourable draw with Bulgaria, Cyprus and Norway their opponents. Those results really don’t bode well for their chances of making it to Euro 2020. Their best player is keeper Jan Oblak but they don’t have a great deal of quality to call upon in other areas of the pitch.

Macedonia may have less strength in depth but they have a few players with a goal or two in them in the shape of the likes of Goran Pandev, Aleksandar Trajkovski and free-kick specialist Enis Bardhi. They take real confidence into this game in light of their recent results and backing Macedonia Double Chance could be the way to go here.