Slovakia vs Austria: Betting Odds & Prediction

Slovakia and Austria meet in an international friendly in Bratislava this Saturday. 

The sides have qualified for the Euro 2024 Finals after both finishing second in their respective qualifying groups. They are both in-form having won their previous three games. Kick-off is set for 5pm UK time on Saturday evening. 

Recent Form 

Slovakia 

Slovakia began 2023 and their Euro qualifying campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw with Luxembourg last Match. Although winning three and drawing one of their first five qualifiers, they only netted five goals during those games. However, they would finish off their qualifying campaign in style; winning four of their final five games (and scoring 12 goals during that period) to ease through to the Euro 2024 Finals.

Slovakia were a tough outfit to break down during 2023; they only conceded 0.8 goals per game during the qualifiers and that figure would drop further to only 0.6 goals per game when they played at home. They even only allowed the free-scoring Portuguese, who averaged 3.6 goals a game during qualifying, to net just once in Bratislava.

They are looking to claim a fourth straight success following consecutive wins over Luxembourg, Iceland and Bosnia - a feat they haven’t achieved since beating Macedonia in June 2015.

Austria 

Austria maintained their strong European Championship qualifying form last year. They finished top of their 2016 qualifying group, were second in their 2020 group and second again in Group F for the 2024 Finals.

Ralf Rangnick’s side finished a huge nine points clear of third-place Sweden to secure their place in Germany this summer. During all three of those qualifying periods, defence was a key factor to their success; they conceded single-figure amount of goals during each of those campaigns.

Evidence of the Austrian’s strong defensive mindset is also shown by the fact they haven’t allowed a single first half goal to be scored against them in their last six away matches. That includes encounters with France and Belgium. They also seem to maintain their focus during less competitive encounters, with only four goals shipped in their last eight friendlies. Six of their last seven friendlies also produced under 2.5 goals.

Like Slovakia, Austria have been on a good recent run of form. They’ve lost only one of their previous 12 internationals and beat Germany 2-0 in a Vienna friendly to wrap-up their 2023 schedule. It was the first time in eleven games (and 21 years) that they’ve kept a clean sheet against their rivals and neighbours.

Prediction

We expect a cagey low-scoring affair in Bratislava with both sides in-form and defensively sound. The previous two friendlies between the sides in 2016 and 2021 were also both goalless encounters.

OddsNow's Pick: Under 1.5 goals scored (7/4 @ Coral)