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A duel between the two most effective teams in the league

Slovan were defeated in their last two matches against Trencin, both away. Today's away side haven't celebrated in Bratislava in over 10 years

Slovan found the two-week international break rather pleasant. The leading team in the league started it with even more an advance over the second-placed team after defeating Senica away, and Ruzomberok lost to Zlate Moravce at home. Spartak Myjava are trying to catch up, but the difference is nine points. Slovan would probably be happiest without a break since they had a run of eight consecutive wins (six in the league, two in the Cup), and now they had to cool down a bit.

Their players (those who were not in national teams) used these two weeks, among other things, for a friendly match with Austria St. Poelten. They were only a goal short of a draw, but their aim was simply to field the players who usually don't get to play much.

The last few days have passed in preparation for the league battle with Trencin, who battered them in the first match of the season and triggered their getting rid of manager Samuel Slovak. Midfielder Kladrubski was injured back in Dunajska Streda and will be out for another two or three weeks.  Important striker Fort was injured in the last league match in Senica, but his injury is not as serious and he should participate in the match against Trencin.

- I can say that the players welcomed the international break because we rested and trained well. I think we are very well prepared. We have to face a tricky and quick opponent who has mature tactics and plays dynamic football. It will not be easy, but we want to succeed. We want to continue our good run - said striker Vittek who has scored four goals in four matches since returning to Slovakia.

Trencin haven't lost a match in over a month and a half, exactly five league matches, but they welcomed the break with open arms since they've been struggling to defeat anyone lately. With three consecutive draws against teams they could have easily defeated (Dukla and Nitra away, Spartak Trnava at home), they only won three out of nine possible points and are 10 points behind the leading Slovan.

Of course, the young team have no intention to chase up to Slovan and their primary goal is to place well enough to get into European competitions, which will result in a real battle until the end of the championship. There are only six points difference between Zilina in ninth place and Spartak Myjava in second, and Trencin are a point behind third-placed Ruzomberok, who hold the last place that leads to Europe.

Trencin also had something to do during the break. They played a friendly against the Polish Podbeskidzie, three times for 30 minutes, during which manager Martin Sevela rotated the eleven players, and the first 30 minutes were the highlight for Trencin, when they scored two goals and took the 2-0 lead. The match was drawn 4-4 in the end and the manager was pleased.

- This was a very good test - said Sevela, whose team would certainly like to repeat the outcome of the previous two games with Slovan, when they won 4-1 and 4-2.

This will be a bit of a problem since that happened on their pitch in Trencin and they haven't celebrated in Bratislava in over 10 years. Even so, Sevela's squad should be complete for this match, which will be a duel between the two most effective teams in the league. Slovan scored 31 goals and Trencin scored 32 in 13 games played. Is it a guarantee of goals in today's meeting?

When two offensive teams like Slovan and Trencin meet, playing over 2.5 goals is a perfect bet. The only problem might be the odds the betting houses offer to beat that margin, but we are in the clear there as well. We have Betvictor and Marathon at 1.75. Slovan score 2.40 goals per game, 2.60 at home. Trencin score 2 per game, 1.22 in away games, but they scored in absolutely every away game this season. Slovan are known to have left their opponents without a goal scored at home, but those were teams like Nitra, ViOn and Senice, who cant field of much of an offense. In their last 12 championship games their duels went over 2.5 goals, and the first one this season ended with Trencin winning 4-1. Good enough for me...