Testing ambitions ahead of the Nations League: prediction for Slovakia vs Montenegro - 05.06.2026
On Friday in Košice, a friendly match will take place as Slovakia hosts Montenegro. Both sides have already chalked up one June friendly win each, so this clash will serve as the season’s grand finale and a crucial dress rehearsal ahead of the new Nations League campaign.
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Slovakia: a new chapter for Weiss after a playoff heartbreak
Slovakia came agonizingly close to reaching the World Cup: the team finished second in Group A behind Germany but then fell to Kosovo in the European playoff semifinals. That marked the end of Francesco Calzona’s four-year tenure, and Vladimír Weiss has returned for his second spell in charge.
Slovakia’s first summer friendly was against Malta, which they won 2-1 courtesy of a stoppage-time goal by debutant Roland Galčík. Now, the coaching staff may give more opportunities to fresh faces, and even without Milan Škriniar, Stanislav Lobotka, Leo Sauer, Dávid Ďuriš, Martin Dúbravka, and Dominik Greif, the hosts still boast plenty of attacking quality.
Montenegro: Vučinić’s project is gaining points, but risks remain
Montenegro also missed out on the World Cup, finishing only fourth in Group L, but the arrival of Mirko Vučinić has injected new energy into the squad. The former Lecce, Roma, and Juventus striker had never managed at senior level before, but he’s already won four out of seven matches at the helm.
On Monday, Montenegro edged Bulgaria 1-0 in Plovdiv thanks to a second-half goal from Balša Sekulić. However, the squad situation remains tricky: Nikola Krstović and Stefan Savić are sidelined due to fitness issues, and Stevan Jovetić was left out of the squad, opening the door for young talents like Andrija Bulatović and Andrej Kostić.
Match facts and head-to-heads
- Slovakia won their first June friendly against Malta 2-1 with a stoppage-time strike from Roland Galčík.
- Montenegro beat Bulgaria 1-0 away on Monday, with Balša Sekulić scoring the only goal.
- Since gaining independence, Montenegro has never beaten Slovakia, with two draws and two defeats in friendly encounters.
Prediction
Slovakia might not be at full strength, but their attacking options remain far more varied. Duda, Beneš, Suslov, Boženík, and Haraslín are all capable of putting pressure on the opposition not only through positional play but also with explosive runs between the lines.
Montenegro under Vučinić has become bolder, but their defensive structural issues persist. The win over Bulgaria has boosted confidence, yet facing a higher-tempo opponent away from home could see the Balkan side struggle to maintain intensity throughout the match.
