Russia Vs Slovakia
Russia Vs Slovakia Friday, 8 October 2021 – 19:45 (BST)
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Draw
Odds: 5/2
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 6 October 2021)
Preview: It remains a wide open race for top spot in Group H. Slovakia are the guests in Kazan on Friday and they will be aiming to cut down a four point deficit on their hosts, a Russia outfit currently level at the top of the section with Croatia.
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Table of Contents
Russia – Our Guys finishing qualifying the stronger?
Seven points from nine during the September qualifiers represented a solid return from Valeri Karpin and his players. Earning a draw with Croatia is not to be sniffed at, although the fact they were at home and must travel to Zagreb next month to face the side they sit level on points with atop Group H, could see them rue said result further down the line. Successive 2-0 victories over Cyprus and Malta followed.
Russia didn’t concede once across their three qualifying encounters last month, which might suggest they’ve overcome their earlier issues. Karpin’s men shipped four goals in their opening three matches of the campaign, picking up four of nine points. So they appear to be finishing strongly, while it is worth noting their run of one defeat in nine (W5 D2) either side of an underwhelming showing at this summer’s EURO’s.
Key Stat: Each of Russia’s last four victories in all competitions were ‘to nil’, while just one of their last seven matches seen both teams on the score sheet.
Slovakia – Onus firmly on Falcons in Kazan?
If we are to put it in more modest terms, Slovakia’s progress in the early stages of World Cup Qualifying were slow to say the least. However, Stefan Tarkovic has overseen an upturn in results – at least in this qualifying campaign. Since seeing his side labour to back-to-back draws against the lesser lights of Cyprus and Malta, they have acquired seven of twelve points to haul themselves back into contention.
The Falcons sit third in Group H, four points adrift of joint-leaders Croatia and Russia with only one assured of automatic progression. Many will feel this is a must win fixture therefore. But having won the reverse 2-1 in Trnava, making it two wins from two meetings, they aren’t without a fighting chance in Kazan. Yet recent form isn’t great, winning just three of the last twelve (D5 L4) whilst averaging less than a goal a game.
Key Stat: Excluding major tournaments (so this summer’s European Championship), Slovakia are winless away from home inside 90 minutes in eight attempts (D5 L3).
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Russia Vs Slovakia Betting Advice
With the top three in the group comprising two of these teams, who are separated by four points, suddenly this match up in Kazan, Russia, takes on huge significance. Even more so in the knowledge that Croatia, the other team in the running for the one automatic qualifying berth in Group H, face a more forgiving assignment away in Cyprus. Intriguingly, it is Slovakia who have won the past two meetings between them.
Russia Vs Slovakia – Key Facts:
- Victory in Kazan for the visitors would see Slovakia register their third consecutive win over Russia, who went down 2-1 the last two times the countries have met.
- Only two of the last twelve fixtures to have been played in Group H featured both teams among the goals – both involved Slovakia, though, with one the reverse fixture.
- Russia didn’t manage to score a first-half goal in any of the last five meetings between the countries, scoring exactly once across each of the last four such encounters.
None of the eight previous head-to-head contests concluded with one of the sides prevailing by a margin greater than one goal. The first three of these all ended in a draw, but each of five subsequent meetings has produced a winner. Slovakia won the last two times, both 2-1, however, the four previous encounters all went Under 1.5 for goals. Put simply, this should be tight, and I suspect low scoring.
Best Betting Odds – Russia Vs Slovakia
Russia – 20/23 (Boylesports)
Draw – 5/2 (BetVictor)
Slovakia – 4/1 (Betfair)
