Slovenia vs Serbia predictions: Goals should flow in must-win match
- Slovenia have scored in each of their last 13 games, losing only once in that run
- Serbia’s three games at the 2022 World Cup produced 13 goals
- Recommended bet: Over 3.5 goals
Slovenia and Serbia each failed to win their opening match of Euro 2024 but impressive second-half performances, against Denmark and England respectively, will have encouraged both sets of supporters.
Serbia pressed England hard in the latter stages and were arguably unfortunate to lose 1-0, while Slovenia came back from a goal down against Denmark and were millimetres away from claiming a shock win.
Both teams will now believe they have the quality to escape a tricky section.
Team news
Serbian wingback Filip Kostic had to come off in the first-half of the England match and will miss the rest of Euro 2024 with a ligament injury. His replacement on Sunday night, Filip Mladenovic, is likely to deputise again now.
Serbian captain Dusan Tadic should return after being restricted to a place on the bench in the opening game, with Sasa Lukic likely to drop out for him.
Slovenia have reported no absentees since the draw with Denmark.
The stats
Slovenia and Serbia have met twice in the last decade and both 2022 meetings ending with four or more goals – a 2-2 draw in Slovenia and a 4-1 win for the hosts in Serbia.
Serbia’s 1-0 defeat to England was the only one of their last six competitive matches to produce fewer than three goals.
Slovenia have scored and conceded in six of their last eight outings.
Prediction
Slovenia goalkeeper and captain Jan Oblak admitted that some of his less experienced teammates were nervous in their opener against Denmark and it showed in their first-half performance.
But they settled well at half-time and not only equalised against Denmark, but were slightly unfortunate not to take all three points against a seasoned, high-quality opponent.
That bodes well for their prospects and now that the early tournament jitters have eased we are likely to see an improved attacking performance – in 21-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko they have a potentially world-class goal threat.
Serbia have plenty of quality of their own, with wily warhorse Aleksandar Mitrovic and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic leading the line and plenty of goal threat throughout, including Milan striker Luka Jovic and midfielders Tadic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Having failed to win their openers and with tough final group matches to come, both teams will see this game as their likeliest chance of grabbing the three points that could see them escape Group C.
Given the attacking potential of both teams and the likely prize of progression for the victor, an early goal could spark an end-to-end encounter with action at both ends of the pitch.
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