Prediction: Trnava vs Newtown

Verdict: Trnava win to nil

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to pick up a first-leg advantage on Thursday night, Trnava will welcome Welsh outfit Newtown to the Anton Malatinský Stadium.

Trnava

Starting with the hosts, managing to pick up some perfect momentum last weekend as they opened their domestic campaign with a flurry on home soil, Trnava will be desperate to keep up that momentum here. Eventually landing a 2-0 victory against Zlaté Moravce at the Anton Malatinský Stadium, Head Coach Michal Gašparík has seen his side bounce back from a downbeat end to their pre-season preparations. Failing to pick up a single win from any of their final four friendly contests, the Blacks should at least be boosted by their continued success in front of their own supporters. Including that 2-0 win against Zlaté a few days ago, Trnava are unbeaten in each of their last nine home fixtures across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to April 3rd. Likewise, it should also be highlighted, Thursday’s hosts have remarkably conceded just a single strike on that nine-match unbeaten run at the Anton Malatinský.

Team News

Finding the net on his debut last weekend, 30-year-old Samuel Stefanik should retain his spot on Thursday night.

Likewise, also getting on the scoresheet against Zlaté Moravce a few days ago, North Macedonia international Milan Ristovski will spearhead Trnava’s charge here.

Newtown

As for the visitors, managing to mount a stellar second-leg comeback against Faroe Islands-based outfit HB last week, Newtown will be more than aware that they face a tough step up in class here. Eventually booking Thursday’s Slovakia after a nail-biting penalties victory on home soil, Chris Hughes’ men are tipped as a landslide underdog on Thursday night. However, while the Reds might have managed to draw a line under their five-match winless run last week, the Welsh outfit have shown some inconsistencies over the past few months. Signing off last season’s domestic campaign by mustering just a single point from any of their final three top-flight contests, it should also be highlighted that Newtown have failed to record a victory on their travels since the start of April. Managing to record just a single strike on their four-match winless run away from Latham Park, Hughes’ men should be bracing themselves for a stern test on Thursday night.

Team News

Getting on the scoresheet against HB last week and also bagging the crucial penalty at Latham Park, 21-year-old Lifumpa Mwandwe will lead Newtwon’s charge here.

After landing that second-leg victory, Hughes could be tempted to name the same starting XI on Thursday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• Trnava are unbeaten in each of their last nine straight matchups at the Anton Malatinský Stadium across all formats.
• Likewise, Thursday’s hosts have also conceded just a single strike on that nine-match unbeaten run on home soil.
• Newtown’s second-leg victory against HB was their first win from any of their previous six matchups across all formats.
• The Welsh outfit have also failed to win any of their last four contests on the road.
• Newtown have also managed to score just a single strike in any of those four consecutive away fixtures.

Conclusion

Although Newtown might have managed to edge their way past HB last week after a thrilling second-leg display, the Welsh outfit face a huge task here. Tipped as a landslide underdog when they make the trip to the Anton Malatinský Stadium on Thursday night, Trnava have continued to impress with their displays in front of their own supporters. On a run that stems all the way back to April 3rd, Gašparík’s men are unbeaten on home soil in any of their last nine straight contests. Likewise, shipping just a single strike on that nine-match unbeaten run, we’re backing what could be a routine home victory for Trnava in midweek.

Verdict: Trnava win to nil

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker: Unibet