Slovakia vs Sweden Prediction: Gyokeres to get on the scoresheet

Slovakia and Sweden collide at Tehelne Pole in Bratislava in the Uefa Nations League on Friday (19:45), with both sides looking to keep their winning streaks going in League C Group 1. They have both taken maximum points from their opening two encounters against Estonia and Azerbaijan, and they both present each other's biggest challenge to date.

Read on for my Slovakia vs Sweden prediction, accompanied by the latest match odds and team news.

Slovakia vs Sweden Odds

Slovakia are 6/4, or a 40% chance, to take the victory on Friday. Sweden are valued at 13/8, giving them an implied probability of 38.1%. The draw is available at 9/4 (30.8%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 5/6.

Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres has scored three goals in the Nations League so far, and he is 5/1 to open the scoring in this match, or 7/4 to score anytime. Slovakia forward David Strelec has one goal for himself, and he is 5/2 to find the back of the net at any stage during this contest.

Football Odds

Team News 

Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has pulled out of the Slovakia squad through injury, so an opportunity will arise for former Fulham shot-stopper Marek Rodak to go in between the sticks for the next couple of matches.

Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka is arguably Slovakia's most important player and his influence in the middle of the park cannot be overstated. He is regularly deployed alongside Ondrej Duda, but the third spot has been taken by either veteran Jaruj Kucka or Laszlo Benes in recent matches.

Forward Strelec is up and running in the Nations League after netting against Azerbaijan last month, and he will be hungry for more in this international break. Strelec has four goals in nine appearances for Slovan Bratislava in the Slovak Super Liga this season.

Milan Skriniar will return to captain from the back line, having turned in some impressive performance for Paris Saint-Germain this campaign.

For Sweden, they are without the services of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who is sidelined with a toe injury, so there will be some added responsibility on the shoulders of his fellow forward Gyokeres for the next couple of matches.

Tottenham Hotspur man Dejan Kulusevski could potentially move higher up the pitch to support, having played in a similar role for his club on occasion this season.

Young midfielder Hugo Larsson of Eintracht Frankfurt has kept his place in the squad despite reports of a squabble with boss Jon Dahl Tomasson last month. Stoke City's Viktor Johansson has been the man in goal for the last couple of games, so he's likely going to keep his place in the side.

Centre-back Victor Lindelof has returned to the squad after missing out through injury last month, and has since been rebuilding his fitness with game time at Manchester United.

Over 2.5 goals @ 5/6

I think we can expect a few goals in this contest because both teams will want to give themselves a cushion at the top of the table and only a victory will do that. Isak being out is a blow for Sweden but they still have Gyokeres, who shines without his compatriot at club level for Sporting CP.

Slovakia will be tricky customers and their defensive record shows that. They are yet to concede in the Nations League, and they will want to record another shutout against Sweden on Friday.

Against Gyokeres, they are going to find it very difficult because he is levels above what they have faced up front for Estonia and Azerbaijan, with the greatest respect to the players for those nations.

Kulusevski may not be the most prolific attacking player around but he has turned in some decent performances this season, even if there haven't been many goals to show for them.

His drive and strength allow him to get into dangerous positions to create chances as well as receive them, so I think he could have a big role to play in this match with Isak out of action. Sweden have also seen over 2.5 goals land in their two Nations League encounters so far, so I think we will see this trend continue.

Viktor Gyokeres anytime goalscorer @ 7/4

I've hyped this man up a lot throughout this preview, which will please my colleague and Coventry City fan Simon, so it's only right that I back him to get on the scoresheet.

Gyokeres has three goals already in the Nations League, scoring in both his appearances so far. Only Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko (four) has scored more than him, and I think there are more goals in store for him over the course of this international break.

The striker has been on fire for Sporting in the Primeira Liga this season, with 11 goals in eight appearances. Gyokeres has also found the back of the net once in two Champions League matches this term, on top of his three goals for his national team in the Nations League.

He is full of confidence right now, which alone can be such a weapon in football. Coupled with his natural talent, a goal should come easy for him in this fixture.

Offers

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