Struga vs Slovan Bratislava Prediction - Champions League Qualifiers
In the first leg of the qualifying round for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, the Slovak champions seemed to have everything under control. However, the North Macedonian champions made a comeback with two quick goals to level the score at 2:2, before the Slovaks eventually secured a 4:2 home victory.
Overall, the expectation is that the Slovakian favorites will advance against Struga, and this prediction seems favorable. Nevertheless, the two-goal burst by North Macedonia’s Ibraimi in the first leg serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change with a lapse in focus. Additionally, with seven key national team players recently participating for Slovakia and Georgia in the Euros, and for Panama in the Copa América, the Slovak team is still lacking cohesion and synergy.
Struga – Statistics & Recent Form
FC Struga – officially known as Fudbalski Klub Struga Trim-Lum – was founded just nine years ago, more or less as a planned project. Trim & Lum, a real estate company based in Struga, North Macedonia, established the club in August 2015, approaching the endeavor from the outset with seriousness and ambition.
As a result, the club, which started in the fourth tier, had already climbed to the highest league in the country by the summer of 2019. They went on to become champions for both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. The next milestone in the club’s short history is their ambition to reach the group stage of a UEFA competition.
International Success Has Eluded Struga So Far
However, the players from the small town located southwest of North Macedonia, at the outlet of the Black Drin from Lake Ohrid, are still quite far from achieving this European dream. Out of eleven international competitive matches, only three games have been won (two draws, six losses).
Recently, there have even been four consecutive losses in European tournaments. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that a win in the return leg against Slovan Bratislava might not be sufficient. Due to the 2-4 defeat, a two-goal margin would be required just to force extra time.
Can Struga defy its underdog status once more?
The odds are clearly against Struga in the match against Slovan Bratislava, despite them having embraced their underdog status excellently in the first leg. All experts anticipated a straightforward home victory for the Slovakians, which initially seemed to be the case.
However, after falling behind 0-2, the 37-year-old veteran Besart Ibraimi hit back with a brace to level the match in the Slovakian capital, although ultimately, the quality and physicality to keep up with the Belasí were lacking in the final stages. Nonetheless, this comeback effort shows that the visitors should not underestimate this return leg in the southwestern part of North Macedonia.
Slovan Bratislava – Statistics & Current Form
Slovan Bratislava is not only the record champion and cup winner of Slovakia but also enjoyed significant success in the former Czechoslovakia before independence. Apart from many national titles, the Belasí (also known as the Sky Blues) have achieved glory on the international stage.
In the summer of 1969, the team from the only capital city in the world bordering more than one neighboring country (Austria and Hungary) clinched the European Cup Winners’ Cup. In that historic final, they triumphed over the mighty FC Barcelona with a 3-2 victory.
Slovan Bratislava’s Recent Impressive Performances in Europe
In recent years, the Belasí’s appearances on the international stage have been quite commendable. In the 2022/23 Conference League, they topped their group ahead of Zalgiris, Pyunik, and FC Basel. In the 2023/24 season, the Slovaks once again secured the second spot in their Conference League group, contending with Olimpija Ljubljana, OSC Lille, and the Faroese newcomer KI Klaksvik.
Now, the Belasí aim to reach the group stage for the third consecutive year and are keen to make their mark in the Champions League. Last year, the journey advanced all the way to the third qualifying round.
The North Macedonian team lacks any national players and generally matches the level of an average third-tier German club based on market value alone. This means the North Macedonian champions face a tough challenge against the renowned Belasí on their home turf.
Key-Facts – Struga vs. Slovan Bratislava Tip:
- Slovan Bratislava won the first leg against Struga 4-2
- Struga has lost six out of their first eleven international competitive matches (three wins, two draws), including the last four in a row
- Slovan Bratislava has twice successfully made it through the group stage of the Conference League
For our analysis of the match between Struga and Slovan Bratislava, we should not get carried away by the six goals scored in the first leg, considering the specific circumstances that influenced the game’s progression. We expect an away team positioned comfortably to focus on defense and exploit counter-attacks since a 0-0 draw or even a 0-1 away loss would suffice for them to advance. Therefore, a rather slow-paced and low-scoring second leg is likely. Consequently, our recommendation is to bet on fewer than 2.5 goals being scored in the match.
