Slovakia v Spain background
Monday, September 1, 2014
Article summary
ŠK Slovan Bratislava's 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup final win could inspire Slovakia as they meet holders Spain in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group C.
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Article body
Slovakia will look to build on a fine opening result in UEFA EURO 2016 as they welcome European champions Spain in qualifying Group C.
Match background
• The nations have met in four FIFA World Cup fixtures, with Slovakia losing all but the most recent of them – a 1-1 draw in Bratislava in the return leg of a play-off in November 2005. Slovakia scored once in each of those games.
• Filip Hološko (50) opened the scoring but David Villa (71) struck back. The intervening 21 minutes were the only ones in which Slovakia have ever led against Spain.
• Slovakia have not won in their last three competitive home games (D1 L2); Spain have won their last 14 qualifying away games since a 1-1 draw in Iceland in September 2007. They are unbeaten in 17 qualifying away games (W16 D1) since their last defeat, 2-0 in Sweden in October 2006.
• The nations' seven meetings in UEFA age-group competitions have ended in five Spanish wins and two draws.
• Slovakian sides' record in 17 UEFA matches against Spanish clubs is W3 D4 L10; the most famous of those fixtures is the first, ŠK Slovan Bratislava's 3-2 victory against FC Barcelona in the 1969 European Cup Winners' Cup final.
