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Sports Mole previews Monday's Nations League clash between Slovakia and Kazakhstan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Slovakia play host to Kazakhstan in League C Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League looking to build on their opening-match victories earlier this week.

Although Slovakia are favourites to earn promotion to League B, Kazakhstan will seize control if they can prevail in Trnava.

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Match preview

Having participated at Euro 2020, Slovakia will feel that they should not be competing at this level of the Nations League, but it at least should serve as motivation to move back up the pyramid.

Stefan Tarkovic's team were not exactly convincing in their opening fixture against Belarus, but a goal from Tomas Suslov secured maximum points at a neutral venue in Serbia.

Slovakia have now prevailed in three of their last four fixtures, their other two wins during that period coming against Malta and Finland with clean sheets being recorded in the process.

Furthermore, just two defeats have been suffered in eight outings, and the belief is there that they can make light work of this group if they perform to their maximum.

The same can be said of Kazakhstan, who was playing with much more belief having finally ended a winless streak which lasted 15 matches in all competitions.

The opposition has been limited since then, a narrow friendly win over Tajikistan being followed by a two-legged Nations League playoff with Moldova in which they only prevailed on penalties.

Nevertheless, a 2-0 triumph over Azerbaijan on Friday felt like an important victory in their development, Magomed Adiyev having something to work with upon being appointed as the nation's head coach last month.

Abat Aymbetov scored both of Kazakhstan's goals in Nur-Sultan, his first strikes for his country since November 2020.

This game represents the first time that these two nations have met on the international stage.

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Team News

Having scored soon after his introduction from the substitutes' bench against Belarus, Suslov will expect to be handed a recall to the Slovakia XI.

Albert Rusnak also helped turn the game in his nation's favour, and the pair could replace Ivan Schranz and Ondrej Duda.

Robert Bozenik is an alternative down the centre of the attack with Ladislav Almasi likely to drop down to the replacements.

Kazakhstan were dealt a blow towards the end of Friday's game with Aymbetov having to be withdrawn due to injury.

Artur Shushenachev appears likely to take his place in attack, with Ramazan Orazov also in contention to earn an opportunity in the starting lineup.

Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Pekarik, Satka, Skriniar, De Marco; Kucka, Lobotka, Rusnak; Suslov, Bozenik, Weiss

Kazakhstan possible starting lineup:
Shatskiy; Kairov, Akhmetov, Alip, Marochkin, Vorogovskiy; Astanov, Darabaev, Tagybergen, Baytana; Shushenachev

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We say: Slovakia 2-1 Kazakhstan

Both teams can claim to be in excellent form heading into this contest, leading us to predict an entertaining clash. However, despite the upward trajectory of the visitors, we cannot ignore Slovakia's home advantage potentially proving decisive in a game where they may have to come from behind.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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