Slovakia vs Moldova prediction and predicted line-ups: Weiss's Slovakia back in Prešov without Bero. Nations League, Saturday 26 September

Slovakia are back in Prešov for the first time in more than 24 years. They host Moldova on Saturday 26 September in the opening round of the 2026/27 Nations League, at the new Futbal Tatran Aréna, which is sold out. Vladimír Weiss, who coached Slovakia to a 3-2 win over Italy at the 2010 World Cup, returned in May to replace Francesco Calzona, with Marek Hamšík among his assistants. Naming his squad in Bratislava on Thursday 17 September, he said: “Musíme vyhrať skupinu. Je to naša povinnosť” (We have to win the group. It's our duty).

Slovakia vs Moldova: kick-off time and venue

Slovakia vs Moldova kicks off at 19:45 UK time (20:45 local time) on Saturday 26 September at the Futbal Tatran Aréna in Prešov. It is Group C3 of League C in the Nations League, with Kazakhstan and the Faroe Islands. Slovakia want to get back to League B, where they played in 2018/19 and 2020/21.

Team news

Weiss has lost Ferencváros' Matúš Bero: tests in Poprad on Monday 21 September found a stress fracture in his foot, and no replacement had been called up by Tuesday. Milan Škriniar is back as captain and spoke about the coach in Poprad on Tuesday: “Tréner má svoju auru, energiu, ktorú do nás, do chalanov dáva od prvého zrazu” (The coach has his aura, an energy he has been giving us lads since the first camp).

Moldova coach Lilian Popescu has had to replace a striker: Virgiliu Postolachi is injured and 20-year-old Nicolae Rotaru of ETO Győr comes in.

Slovakia vs Moldova predicted line-ups

There are no previews with a line-up. The reference points are Škriniar and David Hancko at the back and Napoli's Stanislav Lobotka in midfield, with Martin Dúbravka, whom Weiss praised on 17 September, or Dominik Greif in goal, and Haraslín, Strelec, Boženík and Bobček for the attack. The coach has given no hint about his line-up. There is no prediction for Moldova either: the best-known names in their squad are Anderlecht's Reabciuk, Dundee United's Iovu, Kilmarnock's Nicky Clescenco and Ascoli's Perciun. The official line-ups are released about an hour before kick-off.

Head-to-head and form

The two sides have only met in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, more than 20 years ago: Slovakia won 1-0 in Chișinău and 4-2 in Trenčín.

Slovakia missed out on the World Cup after a 4-3 defeat by Kosovo in the play-off semi-final. Under Weiss they played two friendlies in June, beating Malta 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Montenegro. Moldova arrive without a recent win: in qualifying they lost 11-1 in Norway, the heaviest defeat in their history, then drew 1-1 in Estonia and lost 2-0 to Italy and 4-1 to Israel, and they went winless in four friendlies in 2026. Italy's goals in Chișinău on 13 November 2025 came late, from Gianluca Mancini and Pio Esposito.

Our Slovakia vs Moldova prediction

Our call is at least two goals, confidence 6 out of 10. Moldova conceded at least two goals in three of their last four competitive games, and all four of their 2026 friendlies had at least two goals. Besides Lobotka, Slovakia have three more players based in Italy: Cagliari's Adam Obert, Frosinone's Tomáš Bobček and Verona's Tomáš Suslov. Every other game is in our matchday one preview.

Every game with our calls is on the Nations League page. The record of settled calls is in the results history, and our calls on individual players are in player predictions.