Slovakia Vs Ireland Betting Tip: Both To Score – 8 October 2020

Slovakia Vs Republic of Ireland

Thursday 8 October 2020 – 19:45 (GMT)
Euro 2020 Qualifying Play-Off
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: PaddyPower
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 6 October 2020)

Preview: It is winner takes all inside Narodny Futbalovy Stadion, Bratislava, with a place in Monday’s play-off final on the line when Slovakia go in search of a first ever win over Ireland on Thursday.

UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying Betting at Bet365

 

Slovakia Preview – Has this team forgot how to win?

Bidding to reach a second successive finals of a European Championship, Slovakia could still come to rue their near miss during the group phase of qualification. In Group E, Pavel Hapal’s side claimed as many victories (4) as second place Wales, who qualified automatically, but were instead made to pay for losing a fixture more as they missed out on a top two finish by a single point.

Fortunately their efforts during the inaugural Nations League has provided them with a second chance. This in spite of finishing bottom of a group containing the Czech Republic and Ukraine, both of whom had already secured their place at next summer’s finals leaving Slovakia as the chief beneficiaries. The draw has also been kind, handing them a home tie, although it is hardly plum.

Opponents Ireland have proven stubborn across all five previous head-to-head meetings (D4 L1), with each of the last four ending in stalemate. Meanwhile the recent form of The Falcons, with one win from their last six matches (W1 D3 L2), is not exactly inspiring much confidence about a team which has only won once on home soil in its last four competitive fixtures (W1 D1 L2) – five if you include a 1-1 draw with Paraguay.

 

 

Republic of Ireland Preview – Lack of goals could hamper progression?

When the draw was confirmed, I suspect the response from within the Ireland camp was mixed. Their opponents are favourable, in the sense they’ve never lost to them in five prior meetings. Though only one brought about a victory – the very first encounter back in March 2007, which ended 1-0 on Irish soil – having drawn each of the last four head-to-heads, including both matches held in Slovakia.

There is also the extremely suspect record on their travels which has seen them record one win across eleven previous away matches (W1 D6 L4) in all competitions. That against Gibraltar in a Euro 2020 Qualifier, edging out a nation currently ranked 195 of 210 in the latest FIFA Rankings. Two of three wins during that same underwhelming Group D campaign were against the lowly minnows.

Goals have been the primary issue for ‘The Boys in Green’ but particularly away from home. The last time they netted more than once in a single away outing came in a fairly routine 3-1 scoreline away to Moldova in October 2016. It is perhaps of little surprise, then, that five of their past seven away internationals have ended in low-scoring draws (W1 D5 L1), leaning heavily on a resolute defence to bail out their toothless attack.

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Slovakia Vs Ireland Betting Advice

Goals are not something Ireland typically specialise in, having scored only five times across their last six competitive matches and only three in five away since the start of 2019, but perhaps Slovakia can help. The hosts have seen five of their last six competitive fixtures deliver both teams to score, including four of the past seven held on home soil.

 

 

Furthermore, this fixture has had a habit of producing goals not merely for both outfits but also early into proceedings. Three of the five head-to-heads finished in score draws (1-1 & 2-2 x2), with all three said matches featuring Over 1.5 First Half Goals. With no second leg, a goal for either side – particularly should it arrive early – would force the other on to the front foot.

Best Betting Odds – Slovakia Vs Ireland

Slovakia – 8/5 (Unibet)
Draw – 21/10 (Bet365)
Ireland – 2/1 (Betfair)