Sweden vs Slovakia: betting odds 16 Nov 2024

The Matchday 5 clash in the Nations League between Sweden and Slovakia in Group 1 of League C will take place on November 16 at Friends Arena in Solna. Sweden vs. Slovakia: prediction and statistics.

Referee: Nikolai Balakin (Ukraine)

Matches – 11 (International matches, 2023/24–2024/25);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 49;

Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;

Red cards shown – 1;

Average fouls per match – 21;

Penalties – 36%.

Predicted lineups for Sweden vs. Slovakia

Sweden (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson – Isak Hien, Victor Lindelöf, Gabriel Gudmundsson – Emil Forsberg, Yasin Ayari, Jesper Karlström, Sebastian Nanasi, Ken Sema – Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres.

Slovakia (4-3-3): Marek Rodak – David Hancko, Milan Skriniar, Norbert Gyömbér, Peter Pekarík – László Bénes, Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda – Róbert Boženík, Dávid Strelec, Tomáš Suslov.

The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.

Sweden

In the previous round, Sweden confidently defeated Estonia away with a score of 3-0, extending their unbeaten run in the Nations League to five matches (3 wins, 2 draws). Their scoring streak in this tournament has now reached seven games. With 10 points, Sweden leads Group 1 of League C, ahead of their upcoming opponent due to tiebreakers. A victory in this match would secure Sweden the top spot. Notably, Sweden shares the title of the most prolific team in League C with Romania, having scored 11 goals.

• At least 3 goals have been scored in 6 of Sweden's last 7 Nations League matches.
• Sweden has scored at least twice in their last 4 matches in this tournament.
• At home, Sweden has failed to win in 5 of their last 7 Nations League matches (1 draw, 4 losses).

Slovakia

Slovakia has identical results to their upcoming opponent in the current Nations League campaign, with 3 wins and 1 draw. In the last round, the team defeated Azerbaijan 3-1. Slovakia is also unbeaten in the Nations League for five matches (3 wins, 2 draws). Their scoring streak in this tournament exceeds that of Sweden, spanning eight games. The team has conceded the same number of goals as Sweden in the 2024/25 Nations League (3) but has scored 3 fewer goals. A draw in the upcoming match would maintain Slovakia's chance for the top spot in the group, while a win would guarantee it.

• Both teams scored in 5 of Slovakia's last 7 Nations League matches.
• The team won with a handicap (+1.5) in their last 10 matches in this tournament.
• Slovakia's uncompromising away streak in the Nations League consists of 7 matches (4 wins, 3 losses).

Sweden vs. Slovakia: Match Prediction

The upcoming match is crucial for determining the group winner. The winning team will secure the top spot in the group. Currently, the opponents are level in this Nations League campaign, having only dropped points in their head-to-head encounter in the first round, which ended 2-2. Bookmakers favor the hosts, making Sweden the clear favorites. While Sweden will undoubtedly benefit from home support, I don't believe it will be overwhelming.

I am confident that Slovakia will put up a strong fight against the hosts, understanding the significance of this decisive match. Overall, the upcoming opponents are of a similar level, so I don't think the home advantage will give Sweden an unequivocal edge. Furthermore, the Scandinavians have struggled in recent home Nations League matches, winning only 2 of their last 7. In only one of those did they win by more than one goal. Slovakia, on the other hand, has consistently challenged opponents away from home, not losing by more than one goal in 9 of their last 10 Nations League matches.

Therefore, my prediction: Slovakia with a handicap (+1)