Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
The two teams arrive at this encounter in different states. Slovakia failed to secure points in Sweden, leading them to face participation in playoffs. Estonia, however, are safe from relegation in the group and can play without pressure.
Slovakia
In the last round, the Slovak team didn't achieve a crucial objective for winning the group—they failed to take points from Sweden in Solna. The team were defeated (1:2). But that's not all. They encountered problems in their defence. Denis Vavro couldn't continue the game after the first half due to an injury. Whether he will play against Estonia is a big question. Near the end of the match, another central defender and team captain, Milan Škriniar, received a second yellow card. He will definitely not be available on Tuesday. Perhaps the coaching staff had planned to rest him, but now they won't have the opportunity to reinforce the defence.
Estonia
While Estonia might not seem to have anything at stake, relaxation could actually benefit them. The Estonians are unlikely to want to suffer a defeat, especially a heavy one. They were resilient in Baku, which helped them secure an essential draw (0:0). Now, Azerbaijan can't overtake them, as they lose out in head-to-head results. On the Caspian coast, Estonia again faced Azerbaijani pressure (70% possession, 15 shots, 2 hitting the woodwork). However, the hosts lacked accuracy, with only three shots on target. Goalkeeper Karl Hein managed to handle these threats.
Slovakia vs Estonia Prediction
Both the Estonians and Slovakia will be relaxed. Additionally, the absence of key central defenders in the lineup gives the guests an opportunity. The hosts are very likely to win, yet a large margin of victory is very unlikely. Previous head-to-head results suggest this. In the last meeting, Slovakia won narrowly (1:0). It seems it will be similar this time.
