Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
Strong starts in the Nations League for both Slovakia and Sweden have ensured a comfortable gap from the underdogs in their group. Bookmakers slightly favour the Scandinavians in this head-to-head encounter, largely because of the presence of Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak—two of the most standout forwards in League C.
Slovakia
Slovakia are in good shape across their lines, with Milan Škriniar still marshalling their defence, which was crucial in securing clean-sheet victories against Estonia (1:0) and Azerbaijan (2:0). However, the team have limited attacking options, relying heavily on László Bénes' runs from deep and the dribbling skills of Tomáš Suslov and Lukáš Haraslín on the flanks. Last month, Slovakia rotated Róbert Boženík and Dávid Strelec up front, with only one of them finding the net.
Sweden
Sweden's relegation from League B of the Nations League came as a surprise, yet they are now having a field day attacking weaker rivals. For instance, in Baku against Azerbaijan (3:1), Alexander Isak scored twice, while Viktor Gyökeres scored 1+2—highlighting their dominance with a total xG of 3.46 and 30 shots. Against Estonia, the Swedish side once again relied on the prowess of their stars: the Newcastle striker netted once, while the Sporting forward scored twice, making him the current top scorer in the tournament.
Slovakia vs Sweden Prediction
In their past six meetings with Slovakia, Sweden have not suffered a single defeat, securing three wins. We’re backing the Scandinavians—their squad depth is considerably stronger.
