The second round of the UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers kicks off Sunday, March 26, 2023, with the Falcons facing off against the Dragons at Tehelne pole in Bratislava, so here’s the best Slovakia vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina betting pick.
Slovakia – Bosna and Herzegovina Betting Tip, Prediction & Odds (26.3.2023)
Both Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup, so they hope to make amends in the EURO 2024 Qualifiers and make it to the major tournament. Sunday’s clash could be pivotal, as the competition in Group J seems pretty stiff, so let’s take a closer look.
Slovakia vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Initial Situation
Portugal should dominate Group J. Slovakia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Iceland will fight for the second qualifying spot, while Luxembourg and Lichtenstein are arguably huge underdogs in Group J. Portugal routed Lichtenstein 4-0 in the opening round, Bosnia and Herzegovina easily defeated Iceland 3-0, while Slovakia played a nil-nil draw against Luxembourg.
Slovakia Stats & Form
The Falcons were listed as 1.70 home favorites to beat Luxembourg in the opening round this past Thursday. They outshot Luxembourg 16-7, but only three of those 16 attempts hit the target. It was Slovakia’s fourth draw in a row, and the Falcons are now winless in six straight outings.
Midfielders Juraj Kucka (96 caps, 11 goals), Ondrej Duda (62 caps, 10 goals), and Stanislav Lobotka (44 caps, three goals) are key players in this Slovakia team. The Falcons lack a top-notch forward, as Robert Bozenik (29 caps, five goals), Tomas Suslov (16 caps, one goal), and Lukas Haraslin (27 caps, two goals) are all mediocre options.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Stats & Form
The Dragons had a 2-0 lead at halftime last Thursday thanks to Rade Krunic’s brace. The 29-year-old midfielder (29 caps, six goals) enjoyed a wonderful game, while Amar Dedic (five caps, two goals) scored the third goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dragons outshot Iceland 13-9 and kept the ball in possession for just 38 percent of the time.
Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded its third win in four games. Last year, the Dragons finished top of the UEFA Nations League Group B3 ahead of Finland, Montenegro, and Romania, recording 11 points (W3, D2, L1) and an 8:8 goal difference.
Slovakia – Bosnia and Herzegovina: Head-to-Head
In their three dates with Slovakia, the Dragons have registered a couple of wins and a loss. These two teams met in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, and each side emerged victorious on the road. After a 1-0 defeat in front of the home audience, Bosnia and Herzegovina outlasted Slovakia 2-1 at Stadion pod Dubnom in Zilina, Slovakia.
Slovakia – Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds
The Falcons are listed as slight favorites to earn three points, but the odds tell you that this match could easily go three-way. The bookmakers are expecting a tight, low-scoring battle, so Under 2.5 Goals pays 1.62 at bet365 Sportsbook.
It’s hard to separate these two teams, though the Dragons are playing in a much better form than the Falcons, who desperately need a win following a disappointing draw against Luxembourg. I’m expecting both teams to take a cautious approach, so give Under 2.5 Goals even though the odds are not attractive. Slovakia cannot afford a loss here. The Falcons’ offense has been awful over the last 12 months, so they have to play responsible defense.
Betting tip and prediction: Slovakia – Bosnia and Herzegovina (26.3.2023)