Slovakia vs Sweden

Tehelné pole forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking UEFA Nations League showdown between Slovakia and Sweden.

A return to League B after a two-cycle hiatus is on the cards for Slovakia after they commenced their Group C1 campaign with back-to-back wins against Estonia and Azerbaijan without conceding last month. That’s already as many victories as they posted in the entire 2022/23 Nations League cycle, highlighting the country’s ambition to return to the second tier. However, Francesco Calzona’s side must rewrite the nation’s history books to consolidate their lofty expectations, as after beating Azerbaijan, they could register two consecutive home wins in the Nations League for the first time. Oddly for a team that impressed defensively at Euro 2024, that victory marked only their second-ever home clean sheet in this competition (W3, D1, L5), suggesting they’ll likely have to pack a punch to win this top-table six-pointer.

As for Sweden, they are preparing to visit Slovakia for the first time since an uneventful scoreless draw in 2013 amid a flawless 2024/25 Nations League start. John Dahl Tomasson’s side steamrolled to two straight triumphs against Azerbaijan and Estonia last month, netting precisely three goals on both occasions. Desperate to return to the second tier after back-to-back relegations brought them to this level for the first time in the nation’s history, the Swedes seek two successive away wins in this competition for the first time after a 3-1 thumping of Azerbaijan (W3, D1, L5). Worryingly, all those five defeats have come across their last seven road trips, seeing the Blagult conceding an alarming 17 goals! A less exciting encounter could be in store, given both Sweden’s previous visits to Slovakia have ended 0-0.