Slovakia and Israel will both be looking to recover from respective weekend defeats in the UEFA Nations League when the two sides lock horns at the Anton Malatinsky Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The hosts suffered a 1-0 loss to Scotland in their last outing, while Israel were put to the sword by the Czech Republic in their third fixture of the 2020-21 Nations League campaign.
Match preview
Slovakia and Scotland both headed into their Nations League showdown following dramatic penalty shoot-out victories in the Euro qualification playoffs, but it was the Tartan Army who took the spoils at the weekend.
Despite seeing a number of senior players being forced to withdraw following coronavirus concerns, Scotland marched to a 1-0 victory courtesy of a second-half winner from Lyndon Dykes, leaving Slovakia firmly rooted to the bottom of the table in Group B2.
Pavel Hapal will undoubtedly be concerned about relegation to League C should Slovakia not manage to register their first win in midweek, with the Falcons losing to Scotland and the Czech Republic either side of a 1-1 draw with Israel thus far.
Of course, coming out on top in their European Championships qualifying playoff final against Northern Ireland is likely to be of greater importance to Hapal, and with that fixture still a month away, the Slovakia manager will be hungry for success when his side play host to fellow strugglers Israel in midweek.
Indeed, Israel were unable to recover from their disheartening Euro playoff semi-final exit to Scotland as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic at the weekend.
An own goal from Joel Abu Hanna and a Matej Vydra strike paved the way for a routine victory for the Locomotive against Willibald Ruttensteiner's men, who managed to pull one goal back through Eran Zahavi - his 21st for the national team.
Consolation goals mean very little for an Israel side who are still winless in the 2020-21 Nations League, however, with the Blue and Whites boasting just two points from a possible nine heading into Wednesday's showdown.
An immediate return to League C is very much a worry for Israel, although Ruttensteiner's side ought to feel capable of getting off the mark against an equally out-of-sorts Slovakia outfit in the midweek round of fixtures.
However, Israel are winless in their five meetings with Slovakia down the years, drawing two and losing three against the Falcons since 1994.
Slovakia Nations League form: LDL
Slovakia form (all competitions): LWLDWL
Israel Nations League form: DDL
Israel form (all competitions): LLDDLL
Team News
Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar was forced to withdraw from the squad after testing positive for coronavirus, but Peter Pekarik could come back into the fold after being given the night off against Scotland.
However, Matus Bero was stretchered off after 20 minutes at the weekend and will most likely cede his place in midfield to Ondrej Duda, but Jaroslav Mihalik will miss out following a positive COVID-19 test.
With a quick turnaround in fixtures to contend with, further changes for Wednesday's clash could see the likes of Juraj Kucka and Denis Vavro featuring from the first whistle.
With regards to Israel, Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton is another player who has contracted coronavirus and is now in self-isolation, while fellow Bhoys man Hatem Abd Elhamed is awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test after feeling unwell following Sunday's defeat.
Abu Hanna had an evening to forget against the Czech Republic - scoring an own goal before being hauled off at half time - and Sun Menahem could therefore start this one.
Munas Dabbur will also be looking to partner Zahavi in attack over Shon Weissman, who is still awaiting his first goal for the national team.
Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Kuciak; Pekarik, Vavro, Valjent, Holubek; Hamsik, Kukca; Schranz, Duda, Haraslin; Bozenik
Israel possible starting lineup:
Marciano; Dasa, Tibi, Yeini, Arad, Menahem; Natcho, Golasa; Solomon; Zahavi, Dabbur
We say: Slovakia 2-1 Israel
Both countries have seen their squads affected by coronavirus cases but will be equally desperate to register their first Nations League victory of the current campaign. However, Israel's recent results across all competitions makes for bleak reading for the visitors, so we are backing Slovakia to come out on top in Wednesday's encounter.
