Slovenia VS Cyprus Match Prediction

  • Logo2018-10-16
  • Logo18:45:00
Slovenia
VS
Cyprus

Our Prediction Tip

Slovenia will win this match.

Cyprus’ win in the reverse fixture was their second in nine previous matches against Slovenia, whereas Slovenia have won five and drawn two. Cyprus have never won in Solvenia, but claimed their 2-1 last time out despite falling behind to Robert Beric’s opener. Pieros Soteriou got one goal back before a late own goal sealed a home win. That was their first meeting since Slovenia beat Cyprus home and away during the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

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SVN vs CYP Betting Tips

Cyprus may have beaten Slovenia last time out, but away from home it is a different story. The result in the reverse fixture was a surprise as it was but given Cyprus have won just one away game in the last three years – and that was against minnows Gibraltar – it would be a huge shock if they were to get anything from this game.

Slovenia have been in poor form, and morale will be low, but this is still a fixture they really should be winning.

Their issue will be finding goals – without Tim Matavz they have nobody with anything like a good goalscoring record at international level and they appear reluctant to blood Luka Zahovic too soon too.

Nevertheless, Cyprus concede goals often and Miha Zajc will hope to add to his two international goals as one of Slovenia’s attacking options.

Kostas Laifis is suspended in defence, which is another blow for the Cypriots – particularly as the yellow card that triggered the ban was picked up in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Victory for Slovenia will put them level on points with Cyprus, meanwhile, and ease some pressure after losing three from three at the start of the UEFA Nations League.

It might not save from relegation with potentially two teams relegated from the third tier, but they will at least have a platform going into November’s two fixtures.

Cyprus pulled off a surprise result when these two teams last met – just their second win in nine against the Slovenians – but a second shock does not seem likely looking at the Cypriots’ away form.

Cyprus vs Slovenia Recommended bets with odds

Slovenia are odds-on favourites to beat Cyprus and can be backed at a best price of 8/11 with Bet365.

Goals have been one of their major issues, and under 2.5 goals in the match will return 3/5 with 888sport. A Slovenia win and under 2.5 goals is worth 11/5 with Betway.

Miha Zajc has scored two of Slovenia’s last three goals and will be one of their main attacking options. He is a best price of 9/2 with 888sport to score at any time.

Slovenia vs Cyprus Prediction

Slovenia need to get their UEFA Nations League campaign on track, but this will be one of their best opportunities to do so against a team poor away from home.

Correct Score Prediction: Slovenia 2-0 Cyprus

Slovenia Team News

Petar Stojanovic joined Kevin Kampl and Benjamin Verbic in withdrawing from the squad for the game against Norway due to injury. Jan Oblak has ruled himself out of international duty until the new year, with Vid Belec playing in goal in his place. Luka Krajnc was taken off after just nine minutes of the game in Norway, and Nemanja Mitrovic could start in his place at centre-back, while Jaka Bijol is in line to start too after replacing Leo Stulac at half-time. It would be the CSKA Moscow midfielder’s first start if so.

Slovenia Key Players

Miha Zajc – Scored two of Slovenia’s last three goals after getting off the mark at international level in the friendly win against Montenegro.
Vid Belec – Handed a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting spot in place of Jan Oblak, with the number-one ruled out of international duty until 2018.
Roman Bezjak – There are not many obvious goalscoring outlets in this team, but Bezjak does have four in 25 appearances – surprisingly one of the best records in the current squad with Tim Matavz absent.

Slovenia Team Form

Slovenia have now lost five of their last six matches, including three in a row – all of which have been in the UEFA Nations League. Defeat to Bulgaria, at home, despite Miha Zajc’s goal started the run before a 2-1 defeat to Cyprus – having taken the lead through Robert Beric. A 1-0 loss to Norway last time out continued the poor run of form last time out.

Slovenia Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-4-2

Cyprus Team News

Dimitris Christofi returned to the team as a second-half substitute in the defeat to Bulgaria as Cyprus pushed for a way back into the game, but he is likely to start on the bench again with Pieros Sotiriou occupying the striker’s role. Kostas Laifis will be suspended after picking up a late yellow card – his second of the UEFA Nations League – in the defeat last time out.

Cyprus Key Players

Pieros Soteriou – Scored in the win against Slovenia last time out and leads the Cypriot attack.
Fotios Papoulis – Set up Soteriou’s goal in that 2-1 win, and has proved a valuable asset since being granted Cypriot citizenship.
Dimitris Christofi – Back in the squad, the experienced striker is a different option from the bench – as proved when he came on as a substitute last time out against Bulgaria.

Cyprus Team Form

Slovenia have won just one of their last ten matches, but that was the reverse fixture against Slovenia when Pieros Soteriou and an own goal sealed a 2-1 win despite going behind. They have lost their two UEFA Nations League matches either side, however – both away from home – as they went down 2-0 in Norway and, last time out, 2-1 against Bulgaria despite Grigoris Kastanos scoring the opening goal.

Cyprus Predicted Starting Line up

Expected Line up: 4-2-3-1

Cyprus won the reverse fixture against Slovenia - their only win in the UEFA Nations League so far - to leave Slovenia winless at the bottom of the group. The out-of-form Slovenians desperately need to bounce back, and on paper have the squad to do that against Cyprus, but they will need a big improvement on recent showings.
Slovenia have lost five of their last six matches, including all three in the UEFA Nations League so far.