On March 23, 2025, the national football teams of Slovenia and Slovakia will meet at Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana for the return leg of their UEFA Nations League playoff. Following a goalless draw in the first leg on March 20, both teams face intense pressure to secure a win and ensure their positions within the league.
Slovenia, coached by Matjaz Kek, enters the match aiming to break a recent streak of underwhelming performances. Despite a commendable run in the Euro 2024 qualifiers where they reached the Round of 16, their form dipped during their Nations League campaign, tallying two victories, two draws, and four losses in six matches.
In their previous Nations League meet, Slovenia secured a 0:0 draw against Slovakia, which is reflective of their recent fighting spirit on the pitch but also emphasizes their struggle to convert scoring chances. Today’s match offers a critical opportunity for Slovenia to demonstrate their home advantage, as they have not lost in 13 out of their last 14 home matches.
On the other side, Slovakia, led by coach Francesco Calzona, has shown remarkable resilience, remaining undefeated in seven of their last eight matches in the Nations League (four wins, three draws) following a promising performance in the last group stage. Notably, Slovakia only conceded 1 goal across their last two matches, showing their solid defensive capabilities.
To advance, Slovakia must secure a victory to assure their rise into League B, thereby increasing the stakes of this match. Medics for the team have confirmed that defender Denis Vavro and forward Adam Obert will miss the match due to injury. Meanwhile, David Hancko is believed to have escaped serious injury and may feature in the lineup alongside Martin Dubravka and Milan Skriniar, who bolster their backline.
The head-to-head statistics do tell a story—of nine encounters since 1998, Slovenia holds one win, Slovakia has three, and five matches concluded with draws. This pivotal matchup could sway the current balance, especially considering both teams' records in recent fixtures where attacking has struggled on both sides.
Moreover, in their last six home matches at the Nations League, Slovenia scored at least three goals in five of those games, signaling that their attack could awaken amid the home crowd. Nonetheless, with key striker Jan Mlakar injured, Slovenia’s depth will be tested.
Expectations for this encounter are mixed, especially given the defensive nature observed in their previous match where both teams largely suppressed each other’s offensive maneuvers. The expected formations indicate Slovenia will likely deploy a 4-4-2 setup while Slovakia is seen arranging themselves as a 4-3-3.
In the lead-up to this anticipated clash, both fan bases are buzzing with excitement and hope, eager for their teams to demonstrate their prowess on an international stage. Slovenia looks for redemption at home, while Slovakia hopes to clinch a much-needed victory to assert their dominance during this playoff.
As the kickoff approaches, eyes will remain fixed on the pitch at Stozice Stadium, where the weight of national pride and footballing ambitions hang in the balance.
