The highly anticipated Euro 2024 qualifying Group J match between Slovakia and Portugal is set to take place at Tehelne Pole in Bratislava on Friday night.
Both teams currently occupy the top spots in the group, with Portugal leading the way and Slovakia closely behind.
Slovakia, aiming for their third consecutive appearance at the European Championship finals, have performed as expected by securing a place in the top two of Group J.
After starting with a goalless draw against Luxembourg, Slovakia achieved victories against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, conceding just one goal in the process.
However, Slovakia’s wins against Iceland and Liechtenstein were not without challenges, winning narrowly against Iceland and relying on a late header from defender Denis Vavro to secure victory against Liechtenstein, a team ranked significantly lower than them.
Currently, Slovakia sits three points clear of Luxembourg in the second qualifying spot. Head coach Francesco Calzona understands that results are crucial, as dropping out of the top two could mean no Nations League reprieve for the Slovakian squad.
Slovakia enters this match on a seven-game unbeaten run, having kept clean sheets in their last four European qualifying contests. However, they haven’t managed to string together a four-game winning streak across all tournaments since 2015.
On the other hand, Portugal, led by manager Roberto Martinez, has had an exceptional start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
They have won all four of their opening fixtures against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and Iceland, accumulating 12 points and scoring 14 goals while maintaining a solid defense.
Despite not delivering a standout performance, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal secured a 1-0 victory for Portugal in their match against Iceland, marking his 123rd international goal.
Portugal currently holds the second-best defensive record in Euro 2024 qualifying and is the second-highest scoring UEFA nation in the groups.
In their last 19 matches at this level, Portugal has suffered only one defeat, making them a formidable opponent for Slovakia.
The Selecao has also managed to remain undefeated in their previous four meetings with Slovakia, most recently winning 2-0 in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.
Team News:
Slovakia’s selection for September’s fixtures includes Milan Skriniar and Martin Dubravka, who will likely marshal the backline. Juraj Kucka is set to earn his 100th cap for Slovakia, partnering alongside Stanislav Lobotka in midfield.
Robert Mak, the top goalscorer in the Slovakian ranks, is expected to start on the left-wing. Notably, Marek Hamsik has retired from international football.
For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the team as captain, coming off a strong start to the season with Al-Nassr.
Otavio, Ruben Neves, Jose Sa, and Toti Gomes have also been selected, although Matheus Nunes is absent.
Defensive absentees include Raphael Guerreiro, Nuno Mendes, Pepe, while Rafa Silva and Joao Mario have retired from international duty.
Predicted Lineups:
Slovakia: Dubravka; Pekarik, Skriniar, Vavro, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Kucka; Suslov, Bozenik, Mak
Portugal: Costa; Pereira, Dias, A. Silva; Cancelo, Palhinha, Fernandes, Dalot; B. Silva, Ronaldo, Leao
Prediction:
In what promises to be a closely contested match, both Slovakia and Portugal have shown defensive strength and resilience in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Portugal’s attacking prowess, combined with their solid defense, gives them the edge in this encounter. We predict a 2-0 victory for Portugal.