Malta vs Slovenia Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview
Slovenia travel to face Malta in World Cup qualifying Group F this Friday. Read the match predictions to find out why an away win is the betting tip at Ta Qali National Stadium. In the last round of games Malta were beaten 2-0 away to Lithuania while Slovenia earned a well deserved point after a 0-0 draw away to England.
Malta vs Slovenia Preview
Malta have only one player that has scored more than 5 international goals in 35 year old Valletta striker Michael Mifsud. His tally of 40 dwarfs Alfred Effiong’s four strikes. 23 year old Barnet midfielder Luke Gambin is one of two English based players in their squad.
Slovenia have steady hands between the sticks in Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak. At the other end of the pitch is star striker Milivoje Novakovic with 31 goals in 78 appearances. There are 5 uncapped players in the squad with striker Andras Sporar from Basel, midfielder Aleks Pihler and defenders Dejan Trajkovski, Antonio Delamea Mlinar and Gregor Sikosek all hoping to get on the pitch.
Team Predictions Malta vs Slovenia
Malta 5-4-1 formation: Hogg; Borg, Failla, Agius, Muscat, Zerafa; Kristensen, Sciberras, Schembri, Effiong; Mifsud
Slovenia 4-1-4-1 formation: Oblak; Skubic, Samardzic, Cesar, Jovic; Krhin; Verbic, Birsa, Kurtic, Novakovic; Ilicic
Malta vs Slovenia Betting Tips
- Malta have won 0 drawn 2 and lost 8 of their last 10 matches
- Slovenia have won 3 drawn 4 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Malta have scored an average of 0.3 goals and conceded an average of 2.3 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Slovenia have scored an average of 0.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Malta’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 1 of Slovenia’s previous 10 matches
Malta vs Slovenia Prediction
Malta’s performance in this pool as pretty much gone to script and they are well out of their depth. The qualification process started with a 1-5 home defeat to Scotland before they defended quite well and limited England’s attack to lose 2-0 at Wembley. It was a similar story away to Lithuania and their backs could be to the wall here too.
Slovenia are unbeaten so far and will be looking to apply some pressure on the leaders by recording a win. They began with a thrilling 2-2 draw away to Lithuania before putting in a workmanlike performance to edge Slovakia 1-0 at home. Having forced numerous top-drawer saves from Joe Hart at Wembley, you could say they deserved more out of that game than England.
I’ve been impressed with the way Slovenia have gone about things so far and expect them to keep some momentum by winning this one. Neither of these sides are particularly free-scoring so it’s likely to be a low-scoring game. Malta will play with men behind the ball but I think the visitors have what it takes to grab a goal or two.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
SLOVENIA at 5/19 with 888Sport
Over/Under Prediction
UNDER 2.5 goals at 10/11 with William Hill
Correct Score Prediction
SLOVENIA 2-0 at 9/2 with William Hill
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