Slovakia vs. Spain: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

The Spain national football team will take another step in their quest to exorcise the demons of the 2014 World Cup when they tackle Slovakia in their second match of the European Championship qualifiers.

Both sides got their qualifying campaigns off to an ideal start by winning their opening clashes, but the pressure will be on La Roja to take all the points at the Stadion MSK Zilina. Slovakia do have some excellent players, though, and roared on by a raucous home crowd, they’ll play with freedom and fancy their chances of an upset.

This will be the first major test of Spain’s credentials since the World Cup debacle, and it will be an undeniably encapsulating contest. To ensure you don’t miss any of the action, here are all the details you need on where to catch this one on the box and online.

Date: October 9 

Time: 7:45 p.m. (BST), 2:45 p.m. (ET)

Live Stream: Sky Go App (UK), WATCH ESPN (U.S.)

TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK), ESPN 2 (U.S.)

Hamsik the Danger Man 

With the expansion of the European Championships for 2016, nations like Slovakia have an excellent chance of qualifying for the tournament. And after Jan Kozak’s side beat Ukraine 1-0 in Kiev, they’ve given themselves a wonderful platform to build from.

Sergei Chuzavkov/Associated Press

Slovakia are a side that may not boast an abundance of household names, but they are a well-organised team boasting a sprinkling of ingenuity that could cause Spain problems. The nation's best player is undoubtedly Marek Hamsik, and he’s a player who has been consistently excellent for Napoli for myriad seasons.

He’ll be hoping to affect the game between the lines of the stellar Spanish midfield, and if he does, he has the quality to make an impact. Here’s why Spain should be wary of his threat:

But it’s difficult to see Hamsik getting enough of the ball to make a sustained impression on this game, especially when you consider the reams of quality available to Spain boss Vicente del Bosque. Here’s the squad he initially selected for the trip to Slovakia, per Inside La Liga:

There’s been one amendment from that list, with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos having been forced to pull out of the because of a calf injury. He was replaced by Barcelona centre-back Marc Barta, per Peter Hanson of Goal.com.

It’s a period of undeniable transition for Spain after the international retirement of key figures like Xavi and Xabi Alonso, but this group still boasts some formidable names and a host of players who are currently in glittering form—perhaps most notably Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The former has nine goals for the Blues already, and the latter has seven assists, per WhoScored.com. While neither player has really shone for La Roja of late, Del Bosque will be desperate for the pair to strike up a similarly profitable understanding at international level. 

After Fabregas laid on another goal for Costa in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Premier League, sports social media strategist Nik Postinger paid tribute to the pair's telepathic understanding:

They’re just two quality players in a crop of the highest quality, though, and Del Bosque’s side will have too much for the Slovakian team. Indeed, when you can leave some of world football’s finest playmakers out of your squad, you know you’re in business, as noted here by Phil Kitromilides of Real Madrid TV:

If Slovakia can get the ball to Hamsik in dangerous areas, he has the class to make things happen, especially against a defence that will be without Ramos. But the Spanish will have a vice-like grip on the game in midfield, and in Sergio Busquets—a player who has enjoyed an exceptional start to the season—the Slovakian skipper has a worthy foe.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Spain will play with their renowned patience and probe at this Slovakian back four until it eventually caves in. It may take them a while against a cohesive and industrious outfit, but La Roja’s class will eventually engulf and subsequently wear down the hosts.

Prediction: Slovakia 0-2 Spain