PREVIEW: SLOVAKIA VS BELARUS – PREDICTION, TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINEUPS

There is little importance attached to the fixture, with the visitors already relegated and the hosts unable to claim top spot.


Indeed, having been relegated from League B last time out, Slovakia would have expected to bounce straight back as one of the highest-ranked nations in the Nations League’s third tier. Instead, they have performed pretty dismally, taking only six points from five matches to sit below Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the group.
Former Napoli assistant manager Francesco Calzona was drafted in as Stefan Tarkovic’s permanent replacement in the dugout last month, but the Italian failed to make a positive impact in his first game in charge on Thursday, losing 2-1 to Azerbaijan to fall to third in Group K. Pavel Savitski gave the visitors hope by equalising in first half injury-time, but Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov’s late strike sealed his side’s promotion at Belarus’ expense.
Slovakia Nations League form: Continue reading PREVIEW: SLOVAKIA VS BELARUS – PREDICTION, TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINEUPS

PREVIEW: SLOVAN BRATISLAVA VS OLYMPIACOS – PREDICTION, TEAM NEWS

Slovan Bratislava and Olympiacos head into the second leg of their third-round Europa League qualifier all square after drawing 1-1 in Greece a week ago.

The reigning Slovakian champions have only lost one of their previous six matches played at Tehelne pole, while last season’s Greek champions are winless in their previous five road games in all competitions.
Match preview
Bratislava should be feeling a lot better about their chances to advance into the final qualification stage of this tournament than they did a season ago. Belasi dropped the opening leg to this same Olympiacos side 3-0 in 2021-22 and could only manage a 2-2 draw at home in the return fixture, eliminating them from the competition.
It appears as though they have grown a lot from that experience, advancing into the second stage of Champions League qualifying over the past two campaigns after failing to make it beyond the opening qualification round in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Vladimir Weiss has seen his side squander a pair of advantages in European competition this season, losing the return leg of their second-round Champions League qualifier 4-1 to Ferencvaros after winning the opener 2-1, while they conceded an equaliser in the 86th minute to the Greeks last week. The past month and a half has not been easy for the club from Piraeus, who have only managed to capture one of their previous nine matches played in all competitions.
Carlos Corberan has been brought in to try and steer this club back on course, and in his first match in charge, Olympiacos managed to find a breakthrough late to draw Bratislava last week. Corberan inherits a club that, despite their recent struggles, will have expectations that are far loftier than what the Spaniard experienced in his previous managerial stint at Huddersfield Town, where he coached from July 2020 to July 2022.

SLOVAKIA BOUNCE BACK FROM DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT

Slovakia bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Kazakhstan at the first time of asking after they recorded a slim win at the home of Azerbaijan in a Group C3 clash.


Vladimir Weiss scored the only goal of the game as Slovakia beat hosts Azerbaijan at the Dalga Arena in Mardakan.Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Kazakhstan are in the same group alongside Belarus.
In the first set of games in Group C3, Groningen FC of the Netherlands attacking midfielder Tomas Suslovscored two minutes after the hour mark to give Slovakia a slender 1-0 away win over Belarus. In the other group game, Kazakhstan beat Azerbaijan 2-0 at home. AbatAymbetov was the star of the show for Kazakhstan after he scored twice in the second half to give his team all the three points on offer. The first goal of the game came on 50 minutes before the second goal arrived ten minutes later. Continue reading SLOVAKIA BOUNCE BACK FROM DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT

KUCKA PENALISED DURING LOSS AT LIVERPOOL

Slovakia midfielder Juraj Kucka was a major culprit as Watford stayed in the relegation zone for at least one more week thanks to their 2-0 loss at Liverpool. The Slovakia international had the chance to give Watford the lead some seconds before Liverpool took the lead at the other end.


Kucka had his shot saved by Brazilian international Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal beforein-form Jota scored the opener for the Reds at the other end in their quest for the Premier League title. Continue reading KUCKA PENALISED DURING LOSS AT LIVERPOOL

LAMPARD STARTS EVERTON CAREER WITH DEFEAT

Everton have been on a poor run in the Premier League dating back to the start of October and that run led to the dismissal of manager Rafael Benitez who was appointed into the role last summer. A lot of Everton fans were not in support of the appointment due to his status as a Liverpool legend who won two major titles for the Reds while he was their manager over a decade ago. The Everton fans were delighted to see the back of Benitez after a poor run of one win in 13 league matches.

Duncan Ferguson is a club legend at Everton and he was asked to take charge of the 1-0 home loss to Aston Villa in what was his second spell as the interim Toffees manager. The interim tenure of Big Duncan as he’s popularly called on Merseyside ushered in the appointment of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard as the Everton manager.

In his first game as the Everton manager, Lampard led the Merseyside club to the fifth round of the FA Cup via the 4-1 home win over West London side Brentford in their fourth round tie. Everton will now face non-league team Boreham Wood in the fifth round for a place in the quarterfinals of the competition.

In Premier League terms, Lampard began his Everton reign with a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United who had Slovakia shot stopper Martin Dubravka in goal. The Newcastle United goals were scored by Mason Holgate (own goal), Ryan Fraser and new signing Kieran Trippier who struck his first goal for the club via a free-kick. The Everton goal was scored by Newcastle United skipper Jamaal Lascelles who put the ball past Slovakia international Dubravka in goal. Slovakia goalkeeper Dubravka is the first choice in his position at Newcastle United.

DUBRAVKA RETURNS FOR ARSENAL GAME

Slovakia international goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made his return to the Newcastle United starting XI for the Arsenal game. Despite his return, Newcastle United were unable to break their winless run at the start of this Premier League season after the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners with the two goals coming in the second half.

Newcastle United shot stopper Dubravka missed the start of the season due to injury. The Slovakia international had recovered from the injury as at the end of last month, but he was unable to dislodge Karl Darlow in the Magpies goal until the Arsenal game. He played for Slovakia during the international break this month.

Dubravka was given a route back into the Newcastle United starting line-up when the aforementioned Darlow was clearly at fault for one of the three Brentford goals as the Magpies secured a 3-3 draw at home to the league newcomers in their last game before they faced the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
Slovakia national team star Dubravka was the main reason behind a goalless situation in the first half of the Arsenal game as he repelled the hosts on several occasions. His opposing number, Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal also denied Newcastle United two times in the period under review. However, Dubravka couldn’t do much to prevent the Arsenal goals in the second half.

Arsenal broke the deadlock with 56 minutes on the clock off the assist from the impressive Nuno Tavares, before Brazilian substitute Gabriel Martinelli doubled the advantage for the North Londoners to take the game away from Newcastle United. Martinelli had come on for the injured Saka and it took just 93 seconds for him to make an impact on the game off the assist from Japanese defender TakehiroTomiyasu.

The win over Newcastle United ensured that Arsenal move level on points (23) with West Ham United in fourth place. The Gunners are in fifth place with an inferior goal difference.

NEWCASTLE DROP INTO RELEGATION ZONE

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Newcastle United have dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after the latest round of games. The Magpies are now one of the three teams occupying the relegation zone after they were beaten by hosts Wolves last week Saturday. The Magpies were on the receiving end of a 2-1 loss at Wolves thereby maintaining their winless start to the new Premier League campaign.

The Magpies have not been able to register a single week after seven rounds of Premier League games this season. Steve Bruce and his Newcastle United players now have a record of three draws and four defeats in the league this term after the Wolves result. Continue reading NEWCASTLE DROP INTO RELEGATION ZONE

DUBRAVKA ABSENT FOR VILLA DEFEAT

Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was a major absentee for the league game at Aston Villa over the weekend. The Slovakia international missed the defeat to Villa due to injury.

Slovakia national team shot stopper Dubravka was absent as Aston Villa inflicted another defeat on Newcastle Unitedin what was one of the week two games as far as the new Premier League campaign is concerned.

Dubravka was in Slovakia goal at the Euro 2020 tournament this summer. He was in the starting line-up for all the three group games involving Slovakia at the tournament. Slovakia were knocked out of the tournament at the group stage. Dubravka and his Slovakia national team colleagues won one and lost two out of the three games played in Group E.

Newcastle United shot stopper Dubravka missed the Villa game at the weekend in addition to the West Ham United game on the opening weekend of the latest Premier League season due to a foot injury. He has now missed the start of the two successive Premier League seasons after an ankle injury made him miss the beginning of last season’s Premier League campaign.

Dubravka missed the start of the Premier League campaign last season. In his absence, Karl Darlow deputised for him in the Newcastle United goal. He reclaimed his shirt upon his return to full fitness.
The Slovakian international has been replaced in the Newcastle United goal by Freddie Woodman at the start of this season’s Premier League campaign as he recuperates from his foot injury. Woodman is back at the St. James Park this summer after two seasons out on loan.

Woodman is an highly rated goalkeeper who was at Welsh team Swansea City on loan from the Magpies for the last two seasons. He won the best goalkeeper award in the Championship last season as Swansea City reached the playoff final before they were seen off by Brentford.

HOW DUBRAVKA LET HIS TEAM DOWN

Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had an almostspotless tournament in goal for Slovakia until the final group game against Spain. Slovakia had earlier been drawn in Group E alongside the Spaniards when the draw for Euro 2020 was made several months back. Apart from Spain and Slovakia, Poland and Sweden were also drawn in Group E.

Magpies shot stopper Dubravkawas one of the best players for Slovakia in their tournament opener against Poland. Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar scored the winning goal for the Slovaks as they defeated Poland 2-1 to start the tournament on an impressive note though the Polish team had to play the majority of the second half with ten men after experienced midfielder GrzegoryKrychowiak was sent off for two yellow cards. Former West Bromstar Krychowiak was the first player to receive his marching orders at the Euro 2020 tournament.

Slovakia were unable to build on the win over Poland in their first match at the tournament when they faced Sweden in their second game thanks in part to Dubravka who conceded the penalty that led to the winning goal of the game from Emil Forsberg.Dubravka and Slovakia went into the final group game against Spain needing a result to ensure that they will seal a place in the knockout stage even though they could also achieve the same target with defeat.

In the game against Spain, Dubravka made a bright start to the game saving the penalty from Juventus attacker Alvaro Morata. The Newcastle United shot stopper then went from hero to zero when he punched the ball into his own net to give the Spaniards the lead in the first half and that played a big part in the outcome of the game which ended 5-0 in favour of Spain. The heavy defeat ensured that Slovakia could not qualify for the knockout stage even as one of the best losers having finished third in their group.

NEWCASTLE RETURN TO WINNING WAYS

Newcastle United are back on the winning side following the narrow victory over Sheffield United in their last home game for the current Premier League campaign. Slovakia national team goalkeeper Martin Dubravkakept a clean sheet in the Newcastle United goal to help the team to a 1-0 win over the Blades.

The Magpies welcomed fans to the stadium for the first time since February 2020 and the occasion was celebrated with the slim win over the Blades who have been demoted to the second tier of English football.

Newcastle United had been beaten by Manchester City in their last game before the Sheffield United game. Slovakia goalkeeper Dubravka conceded four goals as his team ended on the wrong side of the seven-goal thriller with the Citizens.

Spanish international Ferran Torres scored three goals for Manchester City on the way to a 4-3 away win over Newcastle United. It was the first game for the Citizens since they were crowned the Premier League winners last week Tuesday. Manchester City confirmed their status as league winners after second-placed Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by Leicester City.

Newcastle United bounced back from that Manchester City defeat with the slim victory over Sheffield United thanks to the goal from Arsenal loanee Joe Willock. Slovakia shot stopper Dubravka helped the Magpies to keep a clean sheet in goal.

Willock is on loan at Newcastle United from the Gunners and his goal means he has scored in six straight games in the Premier League. The young Englishman has achieved the feat at the age of 21 years and 272 days thus making him the youngest player to do it.