Northern Ireland
10 Oct, 2025
20:45
Slovakia
Northern Ireland and Slovakia have both started their campaigns well, currently occupying the top two spots in their group.
This clash is expected to be tight, with few goals, but Northern Ireland come in as slight favorites for two key reasons: their impressive home form and better management of player fitness.
Home form: Northern Ireland are enjoying a strong run on home soil, recording 7 wins, 1 draw, and just 2 defeats in their last 10 matches across all competitions. Remarkably, they kept a clean sheet in each of those seven victories, with a total goal difference of 18:3 over that stretch.
Squad situation: Slovakia will be without two vital players, main defender Vavro and playmaker Lobotka, which could significantly impact their balance and defensive stability.
What we say
Northern Ireland to Win
These teams usually play cagey matches with few scoring chances, but considering Slovakia’s poor away form (just one win in their last five), their key absences, and Northern Ireland’s dominant home record, the hosts have the edge. For a safer option, Northern Ireland to Win or Draw (Double Chance) is also a solid choice.