Slovakia vs Paraguay 14/10/19

14 October 2019

Slovakia take on Paraguay in an international friendly at Tehelné pole in Bratislava that will serve them as the final warm-up event ahead of their pivotal Euro 2020 qualifier in Croatia.

The hosts go into this encounter on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Wales, which was the sixth consecutive match that saw Slovakia concede at least one goal (W3, D1, L2). Indeed, they have allowed one goal precisely in five of those games, with four coming before the halftime whistle. But, Slovakia’s free-scoring form that has witnessed them net 2+ match goals in three of their last five outings can certainly encourage the home fans. In fact, all 16 games for the past three years that saw Slovakia score two or more goals had eventually ended with the Falcons winning the match.

Meanwhile, the visitors’ dismal form has hit a new low, as they’ve lost 1-0 nil to under-strength Serbia last time out. The Paraguayans have now won just one of their last seven fixtures (W1, D3, L3), scoring one goal or less five times during that period. Additionally, Los Guaraníes have failed to find the net in the first half in five straight games ahead of this trip while conceding at least one inside the same period three times in the process. Eduardo Berizzo has to worry about his team’s defensive fragilities, as Paraguay failed to keep a clean sheet in 15 of their last 17 outings.