Tue Oct 15 01:04:08 UTC 2024: ## Slovakia Favored to Bounce Back Against Struggling Azerbaijan in Nations League Clash

**Baku, Azerbaijan:** Slovakia will be aiming to get back on track in the UEFA Nations League when they travel to Azerbaijan on Monday night. The Falcons, currently second in Group 1 of League C, are looking to maintain their challenge for promotion after a draw with Sweden in their last outing. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the table without a single point after three defeats.

The match pits two sides with contrasting fortunes in the competition. Slovakia, despite a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, have shown promise this season, securing victories over Estonia and Azerbaijan in their opening two matches. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, have struggled since Fernando Santos took over as coach in June, failing to win any of his three matches in charge.

Slovakia’s firepower, led by David Strelec who scored a brace against Sweden, will be a major threat to the Azerbaijani defense. The visitors will be buoyed by their recent performances, including a Round of 16 appearance at Euro 2024.

Azerbaijan, however, are hoping to find their form against Slovakia, having defeated them 2-1 in the Nations League back in September 2022. While they are underdogs, their recent friendly win over Kazakhstan will give them some confidence.

Despite Azerbaijan’s potential for an upset, the odds favor Slovakia to claim all three points. The Falcons boast a wealth of talent throughout their squad, with key players like Milan Skriniar, Ondrej Duda, and Stanislav Lobotka expected to feature prominently.

The match promises to be an intriguing encounter with Slovakia looking to secure a vital win, while Azerbaijan will be determined to finally get their campaign off to a winning start.

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