Third will host second in Group J on Monday evening, with Luxembourg and Slovakia battling to join section leaders Portugal in qualifying for next summer's European Championship.

Luxembourg have picked up 11 points from their seven matches in the section to sit in third position, while Slovakia have 13 points from their seven games, which has left them in second spot.

Match preview

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Luxembourg have very much been the surprise package in Group J, and the national team are bidding to qualify for the finals of a major tournament for the first time in their history, so there is a lot on the line.

This is already the team's best-ever points return in terms of a qualification campaign for a European Championship, having won three, drawn two and lost two of their seven matches to collect 11 points, which has left them in third position in the group.

Portugal have already qualified for Euro 2024 from this group, but Slovakia in second are only two points above Luxembourg, demonstrating the importance of this match.

As it stands, fourth-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina and fifth-placed Iceland can also sneak into the top two, but the picture will change after Monday's matches, and a win for Luc Holtz's side here would put them in an excellent spot ahead of their last two games in November against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Liechtenstein.

The Red Lions will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Iceland on Friday evening, with Gerson Rodrigues scoring a leveller after Orri Oskarsson had sent the home team ahead.

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Slovakia, meanwhile, suffered a 3-2 loss to Portugal in Porto on Friday, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a brace and Goncalo Ramos also registering for the home side.

Francesco Calzona's side gave a strong account of themselves but ultimately came up just short against comfortably the best team in the section, and the Falcons now need to refocus as they prepare to travel to Luxembourg for a huge contest on Monday night.

Slovakia remain in control of second position on 13 points, winning four, drawing one and losing two of their seven matches, with both of their defeats coming to Portugal.

The Representatives have been present in the finals of the last two European Championships, reaching the round of 16 at Euro 2016 before being eliminated in the group stage at Euro 2020.

Slovakia's last two games in the section are against Iceland (H) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (A) in November, and it will be fascinating to see how this group plays out over the next month.

Team News

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Luxembourg have not reported any injury problems following their clash with Iceland on Friday, but there is expected to be a change in the final third of the field.

Rodrigues came off the bench to register in the team's last match, and he should replace Alessio Curci through the middle for what is a huge game in the section.

Danel Sinani has scored 12 times for his national side and will again operate in a deeper position, while Vincent Thill is expected to keep his spot in a wide area.

As for Slovakia, head coach Calzona is expected to make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Portugal last time out.

Laszlo Benes and Tomas Suslov both made positive impressions off the bench in the 3-2 loss, and the pair are now likely to be handed starting roles here.

Milan Skriniar will again captain the team from the middle of the defence, while Ondrej Duda and Stanislav Lobotka are also certain starters for the visitors on Monday night.

Luxembourg possible starting lineup:
Moris; Dzogovic, Mahmutovic, Chanot, Carlson, Pinto; V Thill, Sinani, Martins, Barreiro; Rodrigues

Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Benes, Lobotka, Duda; Suslov, Bozenik, Mak

We say: Luxembourg 1-2 Slovakia

Slovakia will have been pleased with their performance against Portugal last time out, and if they can tighten up defensively, Calzona's side should win here. Luxembourg deserve a lot of respect for their performances in the section, but we are backing an away success on Monday night.

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

Written by
Matt Law

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