Azerbaijan play host to Slovakia in the UEFA Nations League on Friday evening knowing that defeat would realistically leave them out of the hunt for promotion to League B.
Meanwhile, Slovakia head into this contest on the back of a surprise defeat to Kazakhstan, putting the visitors under pressure to bounce back in League C Group 3.
Match preview
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Slovakia started this campaign as the clear favourites to progress, Stefan Tarkovic's team having collected some solid results during and after their participation at Euro 2020.
However, Monday's home defeat to Kazakhstan has left Slovakia in second position, aware that they can ill-afford another setback on the same day that the group leaders face Belarus.
With the return fixture in Kazakhstan scheduled to be play next Monday, Tarkovic may already have one eye on that fixture, but Slovakia cannot afford to take their upcoming opponents lightly.
On a positive note, the Falcons have only lost three of their last nine games in all competitions, the other two setbacks coming in Russia and Norway.
Slovakia have also prevailed in three of their last four fixtures on the road, posting wins against Malta, Finland and Belarus.
From Azerbaijan's perspective, they already look like a team that is going to struggle to avoid finishing in bottom spot of this group.
Although a goalless draw in Belarus was a step in the right direction, Gianni De Biasi's team have now gone four matches - against similar opponents - without getting on the scoresheet.
Their winless streak also now stands at 13 matches, their solitary success in 23 encounters coming courtesy of a last-gasp winner in a friendly in Belarus 12 months ago.
Playing back-to-back home fixtures - the second coming against Belarus - may work in their favour, but they have not recorded a win on familiar territory since beating the Faroe Islands in 2018.
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Team News
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Azerbaijan will be without Qismat Aliyev after the winger was sent off soon after his introduction as a substitute against Belarus.
Namik Alaskarov and Mahir Emreli may be brought into the attack, while Qara Qarayev is an option for one of the three central-midfield roles.
Slovakia are missing Milan Skriniar after the centre-back was forced off through injury during the closing stages of the first half versus Kazakhstan.
Martin Valjent will almost certainly replace the Inter Milan man, and further alterations could be made with Tomas Suslov and Lukas Haraslin both pushing for recalls in the final third.
Robert Bozenik may also be restored down the centre of the attack with Ladislav Almasi still without a goal for his country at this level.
Azerbaijan possible starting lineup:
Mahammadaliyev; Huseynov, Haghverdi, Mustafazada; Medvedev, Qarayev, Mahmudov, Silvestre, Salahly; Alaskarov, Emreli
Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Koscelnik, Valjent, Gyomber, Chvatal; Kucka, Lobotka, Rusnak; Suslov, Bozenik, Haraslin
We say: Azerbaijan 1-2 Slovakia
With goals having been few and far between in this group, there is a feeling that this contest could go either way. However, we cannot ignore that Slovakia are by far the more reputable team here, and they have enough quality in attack to earn a hard-fought win in Mardakan.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
