High-flying Slovenia travel to Austria on matchday 6 of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, with both sides currently tied on seven points. The two nations lock horns in Group 3 of League B for what will be the last match of a memorable calendar year for both teams.
Austria had won all their previous three meetings against Slovenia without conceding a goal, until the first leg of this encounter when they played out a 1-1 draw. Benjamin Sesko had opened the scoring at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana but Konrad Laimer levelled matters before the half-hour mark.
Austria and Slovenia both reached the Last 16 stage of Euro 2024 where Slovenia lost to Portugal on penalties while Austria suffered a 2-1 defeat to Turkey.
After an impressive group stage campaign, Austria was tipped as potential outsiders for the trophy, but they fell short with their heads held high.
Ralf Rangnick’s side returned to the Nations League with a single point from their first two matches, but they beat Kazakhstan and Norway convincingly thereafter.
Das Team were relegated from League A in 2022/23 after finishing bottom of Group 1 with just four points from their six matches. The only win in that campaign – a 3–0 win over Croatia – came under Rangnick who has revived the fortunes of Burschen.
Austria are ranked 23rd best in the world and they will fancy their chances of finishing first in a three-horse race with Norway and Slovenia. This fixture coming on the final day of the group also means it will determine the outcome of the top spot.
The Slovenians are enjoying a remarkable period in the history of their national team who qualified for the European Championship for just the second time ever. Euro 2024 was their first major tournament in 24 years and they made sure it would be remembered for their maiden knockout stage appearance.
Matjaz Kek’s team drew all three of their group-stage matches against Denmark, Serbia, and England, and made it out as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament. Although they were eventually eliminated on penalties by Portugal, they bowed out of the competition undefeated.
They made a blistering start to the Nations League campaign with four points from their opening two games, but a 3-0 defeat to Norway handed them a first defeat. Jan Miakar’s goal helped them return to winning ways against Kazakhstan and they will be hoping for a casualty-free November schedule.
Slovenia finished third in League B Group 4 during the 2022/23 campaign as they picked up six points from their six matches. They will be aiming to finish higher in these final two fixtures against Norway and Austria, it will be interesting to see how the final group standing unfolds.
Slovenia are 52 in the FIFA world rankings but they cannot be underestimated given the talent and confidence now cursing through their ranks.
Match tickets
This UEFA Nations League fixture takes place on Sunday, 17 November 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 5 PM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on the UEFA website and the official channels of each national team’s association, it is important to make your reservations early in order to be considered.
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion will provide a spectacular backdrop for this encounter and the arena is set to be rocking with almost 50,000 in attendance. Being in Vienna, Austrians will dominate the stands but the visitors are expected to have a sizeable support in what could be a crucial match.
Finding Austria vs Slovenia tickets via direct sources could prove complicated, so we urge travelling fans to make their search on a ticket resale site.
Team news
Captain Marko Arnautovic remains a consistent presence for the Austria team during the long-term absence of team captain David Alaba. Elsewhere, Marcel Sabitzer and Konrad Laimer are mainstays in the midfield alongside Nicolas Seiwald, Christopher Baumgartner, and Romano Schmid.
Michael Gregoritsch might have to make do with a spot on the bench, but Rangnick may have injury issues to contend with. Maximilian Wober, Xaver Schlager, Sasa Kalajdzic, Marco Grull, and Karim Onisiwo are all injured at the time of writing and are unlikely to be called up in November.
On the other hand, Slovenia has the attacking talents of Benjamin Sesko who has 15 goals in 37 games for his country. The 21-year-old is on course to develop into one of Europe’s most fearsome strikers and he has started the 2024/25 season with seven goals and three assists in 13 games for RB Leipzig.
Slovenia is captained by Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak but will still be missing some notable options including Zan Karnicnik, Vanja Drkusic, Zan Zaletel, and Jon Gorenc Stankovic.
Line-ups
One of the hallmarks of Rangnick’s Austria is their resilience and strength of character which emanates from the continuity that this group of players have had playing together over the years.
They are likely to make a few changes to their strongest team ahead of this all-important and highly-anticipated matchday 6 fixture.
Austria: Pentz; Mwene, Posch, Lienhart, Prass; Seiwald, Laimer; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
Kek uses a strict 4-4-2 formation that he rarely deviates from, this system allows him to remain defensively solid and maximise the wealth of their attacking qualities.
Sesko and Andraz Sporar form a formidable front pairing whom Slovenia depends on for most of their goals. They will be confident of getting the job done and earning a favourable result in the Austrian capital.
Slovenia: Oblak; Stojanovic, Drkusic, Bijol, Balkovec; Lovric, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Prediction
Both teams will believe that they can hurt the other in the final third of the pitch and it is shaping up to be a very interesting game. There will be lots at stake regarding the top spots in the league table so this will be very competitive.
Hence, you are better off expecting a low-scoring affair with little to separate both sides.
Austria 1-1 Slovenia
