Every year, an improvement can be seen among the small states in Europe. National teams that have never really played a part in qualifying for a major competition are now in high demand and are really shaking up the groups. These include the North Macedonians, who now, after years of development, are now taking chances to reach the European Championships for the first time in the history of the association.
North Macedonia vs Slovenia Today’s Betting Tips
In the well-balanced qualifying Group G, with the exception of Latvia, all teams still have a chance of getting the ticket to the European Championship in 2020. The best tickets are won by the Poles, who lead the group with 13 points. On Thursday evening, runners-up Slovenia will now face fourth-placed Northern Macedonia.
The bookmakers favor duo between North Macedonia and Slovenia according to odds. Despite a home advantage, however, a prediction for Slovenia did not materialize in the first half of the season, which is why it remains to be seen how the Slovenes will look abroad. Northern Macedonia can equal with a home win as a runner-up with Slovenia, should Austria against points in Israel parallel play points.
North Macedonia – Statistics & Current Form
For the North Macedonians, the current qualification for the European champions runs quite confidently. For the first time in a while, the North Macedonians have realistic chances for the European Championship ticket, which is why the upcoming duels in the group will also be groundbreaking. With eight points on the account, the North-Macedonian selection can already advance to second place with a home win against Slovenia and from Israel.
The “red lynxes”, as the North Macedonians call, are currently riding an euphoric wave anyway. Already at the UEFA Nations League last year, the North Macedonians – at that time well-known as Macedonia – were convincing. With 15 points, the North Macedonian selection prevailed in a group with Armenia, Gibraltar and Liechtenstein as group winners.
Thus, the rise in the league C was also fixed. For quite some time, the red lynx has been going steadily uphill, which was once again impressively demonstrated by the strong performances in this qualification. So far, North Macedonia have recorded only two wins in the group stage of European Championship qualifying.
There was a dropout only in the home game against Austria, where surprisingly a high defeat (1: 4) was cashed. The draw against Slovenia or the narrow home defeat against Poland show, however, that with the North Macedonians are quite likely. Before the recent two home games against Poland and Austria, the red lynx have won six home games in a row.
Most well-known and experienced player in the squad of the North Macedonians is Goran Pandev, who also leads the team as captain. Pandev is not only a record player with 105 international appearances, but leads with 34 international goals the top scorer in Macedonia. In the squad of the North Macedonians there were only a few changes compared to the last international break.
With Darko Velkovski, Krste Velkoski and Enis Bardhi three players had to cancel because of injury. Great changes are not expected in the starting line-up of the Northern Macedonians. Bardhi, who met Latvia in the recent qualifier, is expected to be replaced by Nikolov.
For a North Macedonia against Slovenian tip to the hosts are offered odds of 3.40.
Expected lineup of North Macedonia:
➥ Dimitrievski – Aliosky, Velkovsky, Musliu, Bejtulai – Ademi, Nikolov – Elmas, Pandev, Trajkovski – Trickovski
Last matches of North Macedonia:
⚽️ 09.09.2019 – Latvia vs North Macedonia 0: 2 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 05.09.2019 – Israel vs. Northern Macedonia 1: 1 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 10.06.2019 – North Macedonia vs. Austria 1: 4 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 07.06.2019 – North Macedonia vs. Poland 0: 1 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 24.03.2019 – Slovenia vs Northern Macedonia 1: 1 (European Championship Qualification)
Slovenia – Statistics & Current Form
Slovenia is already looking ahead to the European Championship in 2020. Since 2000, the Slovenian selection has not been able to qualify for a European Championship. But for Slovenia there were twice the starting right for the World Cup finals in 2002 and 2010. This year sees the European Championship qualifier for the Slovenians but quite realistic, especially as a runner-up eleven points from the first six games were booked.
It was not really clear that the Slovenian selection will play so strongly in the European Championship qualification after the catastrophic performances at the Nations League the year before. So far, Slovenia has lost only against the Austrians this calendar year. However, with subsequent wins over Latvia (5-0), Poland (2-0) and Israel (3-2), Slovenia has recaptured the second group place.
In order to keep it that way, the team around head coach Matjaz Kek wants to win the away game in Northern Macedonia. In the first round played the Kek-Elf at home only draw against the North Macedonian selection. The Slovenian selection is now far from an easy task, especially as the Slovenians’ recent away record is not very promising.
Before the Latvia victory, there was only one victory for the Slovenians in the twelve away games before. The extent to which the weak away form continues under the new coach Kek will be seen in the upcoming qualifying matches. Slovenia had more than one goal in the recent home game against Israel this calendar year.
The most valuable man in the Slovenian squad is keeper Jan Oblak. The Slovenian goalkeeper is the strong backing of the team and has already saved Slovenia some points. Matjaz Kek benefits not only from the team star Oblak but also from the up-and-coming players in the team, including Andrez Sporar.
The 25-year-old has made considerable achievements on the club level and can definitely count on starting-off chances in the away game in Northern Macedonia. Compared to the last squad there were only minimal changes in the Slovenes. Martin Milec, Luka Zahovic and Domen Crnigoj had to cancel their participation due to injury.
Estimated formation of Slovenia:
➥ Oblak – Jokic, Mevlja, Struna, Stojanovic – Verbic, Kurtic, Krhin, Ilicic – Sporar, Bezjak
Last matches of Slovenia:
⚽️ 09.09.2019 – Slovenia vs. Israel 3: 2 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 06.09.2019 – Slovenia vs. Poland 2: 0 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 10.06.2019 – Latvia vs. Slovenia 0: 5 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 07.06.2019 – Austria vs Slovenia 1: 0 (European Championship Qualification)
⚽️ 24.03.2019 – Slovenia vs Northern Macedonia 1: 1 (European Championship Qualification)
North Macedonia vs Slovenia Direct Comparison
It will be the seventh duel between Northern Macedonia and Slovenia. The North Macedonians lead with a score of 4-1-1 the direct comparison against Slovenia. In the recent three clashes, there was a home win and the draw in the first round of this year’s European Championship qualifiers. In two of the last three duels between Northern Macedonia and Slovenia, a prediction has proved to be under 2.5 goals.
North Macedonia vs Slovenia Our Best Betting Tips Explained
Slovenia was superior in the first round match against Northern Macedonia. In the end, there was only one point left for the Slovenians against strongly defending North Macedonians. The team of Kek will also not expect an easy task for the away game in Skopje, especially as the North Macedonians knew how to convince at home in the past.
The red lynxes are also euphoric and continue to expect opportunities for the Euro 2020. With a home win, Northern Macedonia – with support from Israel – can catch up with Slovenia.
Key facts – North Macedonia vs Slovenia tips
? With a home victory, Northern Macedonia can catch up with Slovenia.
? In the last 13 away games Slovenia have won only twice
? In the run-up to Poland and Austria, Northern Macedonia have won five home games in a row.
The match in Skopje is ground breaking for both sides. We therefore expect that the two teams in the first round to carefully scan and hardly take risks. In the case of Northern Macedonia against Slovenia, we recommend a bet on good odds at under 0.5 goals in the first half. For this we choose a bet of five units.
Competition: EC Qualification, Group G
Date: 10.10.2019
Betting Tip: No goal (1.HT)
Odds: 2.55
Stake: 5/10 units
