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As both teams prepare to return to competitive action in September, Slovakia and Montenegro are set to face off at the Košická Futbalová Aréna on Saturday, 6 June 2026, at 00:00 local Lombok time (WITA), NTB.

Neither side will feature in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America later this month, but both will treat this friendly as a valuable opportunity to build momentum ahead of the 2026–27 UEFA Nations League campaign.

Slovakia impressed during their World Cup qualifying run, notably defeating Germany 2-0 on their way to finishing second in Group A. However, their journey ended in disappointment when they were eliminated in the playoff semi-final after a 4-3 home defeat to Kosovo.

Following the departure of head coach Francesco Calzona in April, Vladimír Weiss — who famously guided Slovakia to their only World Cup appearance as an independent nation in 2010 — returned to the helm last month. He oversaw his first match back on Monday, with Sokoli claiming a 2-1 victory over Malta courtesy of goals from Lukáš Haraslín and debutant Roland Galčík.

Meanwhile, Montenegro’s World Cup qualifying campaign was less successful. Drawn in Group L alongside Croatia and the Czech Republic, they lost five of their eight group matches.

Like their weekend opponents, the Brave Falcons were also in action on Monday, travelling to the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv to face Bulgaria. Montenegro secured a 1-0 win, with 27-year-old striker Balša Sekulić coming off the bench to score his first international goal.

Head-to-Head: Slovakia vs Montenegro

• Friday’s clash will be the third meeting between Slovakia and Montenegro.
• Their last encounter came in a friendly in December 2022, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
• Slovakia’s loss to Kosovo in March remains their only home defeat in the past two years.
• Montenegro have won their last two away matches after previously losing seven straight on the road.
• In the latest FIFA World Rankings, Slovakia sit 48th while Montenegro occupy 81st place.

Team News: Slovakia vs Montenegro

Slovakia fielded a fairly strong starting XI on Monday, with Middlesbrough striker David Strelec leading the attack. However, several senior players remain sidelined.

Captain Milan Skriniar and playmaker Stanislav Lobotka are both out injured, joining Leo Sauer and David Duris on the sidelines. Goalkeepers Martin Dubravka and Dominik Greif are also unavailable.

As a result, several new faces could feature in Friday’s friendly, while Montenegro are expected to rotate their lineup as well.

Atalanta forward Nikola Krstovic and veteran defender Stefan Savic have both withdrawn from the visitors’ initial 28-man squad due to fitness issues.

Long-time captain Stevan Jovetic has also been left out as coach Miodrag Vucinic looks to the future.

Lens midfielder Andrija Bulatovic and 19-year-old striker Andrej Kostic are among the promising young talents pushing for starting spots in Košice.

Predicted Line-ups: Slovakia vs Montenegro

Slovakia: Takac; Pavek, Valjent, Satka, Obert; Duda, Bero, Benes; Suslov, Bozenik, Haraslin

Montenegro: Petkovic; Roganovic, Vujacic, Rubezic, Raznatovic; Brnovic, Vukotic, Bulatovic, Camaj; Kostic, Osmajic

Score Predictions: Slovakia vs Montenegro

Sportskeeda Prediction

The two nations are evenly matched in recent form, each having secured four wins in their last six matches.

However, home advantage could give Slovakia the edge, and they are backed to win if they prepare well.

Predicted Score: Slovakia 2-1 Montenegro

Sportsmole Prediction

Despite missing several key players, the hosts still possess a strong attacking line — the Falcons notably defeated a powerful German side in World Cup qualifying last September.

Although Montenegro managed a rare clean sheet on Monday, their defence can still be vulnerable and may struggle to contain Slovakia’s attack.

Predicted Score: Slovakia 3-1 Montenegro

TribunLombok Prediction

Slovakia hold a significant advantage through home support and consistent performance on home soil. Their playoff loss to Kosovo remains their only home defeat in two years, showing just how difficult it is to beat Sokoli in Košice.

Even without Milan Skriniar and Stanislav Lobotka, Slovakia’s squad remains balanced. The attacking trio of Lukáš Haraslín, Dávid Strelec, Robert Boženík, and Tomáš Suslov can still create plenty of chances, especially against a defence that lacks full cohesion.

For Montenegro, the absence of Nikola Krstovic, Stefan Savic, and Stevan Jovetic reduces both experience and quality across the pitch. The coach’s decision to give younger players more opportunities may bring energy but could also lead to inconsistency over 90 minutes against a more seasoned opponent.

Montenegro are likely to adopt a disciplined approach and rely on counterattacks, but Slovakia appear to have a better balance between midfield creativity and finishing efficiency. If the hosts score first, they should be able to control the tempo until the final whistle.

TribunLombok predicts Slovakia will win without conceding.

Predicted Score: Slovakia 2-0 Montenegro