On Friday evening, Slovenia will host Austria at Stozice Stadium for a UEFA Nations League match in Group 3 of League B. Both teams reached the round of 16 in Euro 2024. Portugal eliminated Slovenia on penalties, while Austria lost 2-1 to Turkey. Slovenia’s Euro 2024 performance was notable, as it was only their second appearance in the knockout stages of a European Championship.
Shifting their focus to the Nations League, Slovenia will compete in League B’s Group 3, alongside Austria, Kazakhstan, and Norway. In the previous 2022-23 Nations League season, Slovenia finished third in Group 4 with six points from their six matches. They were promoted to League B after topping League 3 of League C in the 2020-21 season.
Slovenia vs. Austria: Team Form & Head-to-Head
During this international break, Slovenia will face Austria and Norway, with additional matches against Norway and Kazakhstan scheduled for October. The progression of the group will be closely watched.
Historically, Slovenia and Austria have clashed only four times, with Slovenia securing a single victory 2-0 win in a friendly in March 1997. Austria, having also reached the last-16 stage of Euro 2024, was considered a potential dark horse due to their strong group-stage performance. However, Ralf Rangnick’s team fell short, losing to Turkey in the first knockout round. Their focus is now on the Nations League, with upcoming matches against Slovenia and Norway.
Austria was relegated from League A in the previous season, finishing last in Group 1 with just four points from matches against Croatia, Denmark, and France. Austria has won the last three encounters against Slovenia, including a 1-0 victory in a Euro 2020 qualifier in October 2019. However, they have lost their last three Nations League matches, their last win being a 3-0 triumph over Croatia in June 2022.
Team News
For Slovenia, the lineup is expected to resemble the team that faced Portugal in Euro 2024’s round of 16, with Benjamin Sesko likely to play a key role in the attack. Sesko, who struggled at the European Championship, has scored 11 goals in 33 appearances for his country and has made a strong start to the 2024-25 season with RB Leipzig, registering one goal and two assists in three games.
Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak will be a key figure in goal for Slovenia, though defender Zan Karnicnik is sidelined due to injury.
Austria’s lineup will probably feature Marko Arnautovic in attack, with Marcel Sabitzer and Konrad Laimer also expected to start. Michael Gregoritsch may have to settle for a bench role, with Christopher Baumgartner and Romano Schmid anticipated to keep their positions. Kevin Danso is likely to continue at right-back, with Nicolas Seiwald expected to be in midfield.
Slovenia vs Austria: Probable Starting XI
Slovenia: Oblak; Stojanovic, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Lovric, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Austria: Pentz; Posch, Danso, Lienhart, Mwene; Seiwald, Laimer; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
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