Euro 2016 Play-off, second leg - preview and odds: Slovenia vs. Ukraine

Published on: 15/11/2015

Euro 2016 Play-off, second leg - preview and odds: Slovenia vs. Ukraine

November 17, 2015 20:45pm - Ljudski vrt, Maribor

Euro 2016 Qualifier - Play-off

After securing a 2-0 win at home to Slovenia, Ukraine are on the verge on qualifying for a major tournament via the play-off route for the first time in their history.

Slovenia face uphill battle

Before the teams met last week, Slovenia had never lost a game against Ukraine, but they now face the prospect of being dumped out of the European championship qualifiers at the play-off stage, after falling by two goals to nil to their opponents in Lviv. On Tuesday night, it will be exactly 16 years to the day since Slovenia knocked Ukraine out of the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign at the play-off stage. Current boss Srečko Katanec was also in charge for that clash back in 1999.

Ukraine within touching distance of Euro 2016

Ukraines miserable record in play-offs could finally come to an end if they can hang on to their two-goal lead against the Slovenians on Tuesday night. As well as falling to Slovenia in the Euro 2000 play-offs, the Ukrainians have also fallen at the play-off stage in four FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Team news

Ukraine will welcome back Olexandr Kucher and Taras Stepanenko who were both suspended for the first leg due to accumulation of yellow cards.

Recent form (qualifiers)

Slovenia: LWDWL

Ukraine: WLWDW

Betting odds and tips

Ukraine are in a commanding position and can further strengthen their cause by grabbing an away goal in this game. The home side have only managed to score more than one goal on two occasions in their last eight competitive home games - and one of those matches was against San Marino. With this in mind, the 1-0 home win or the 1-1 draw look like the choice bets.

With the home side chasing a two goal deficit, Ukraine should get a chance to bag that valuable away goal. Therefore, the 1-1 stalemate looks like the standout bet and can be backed at 13/2 with Unibet alternatively, the straight draw is available at 23/10 with Bet365.

Published on: 15/11/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (15/11/2015 16:45:37) but are subject to change.