Slovenia and North Macedonia meet for Stozice Stadium inside Ljubljana for round two of UEFA Nations League B. Manager Bostjan Cesar set Slovenia for 5-4-1, while Goce Sedloski line up North Macedonia for 4-2-3-1.
Slovenia enter the game after 0-0 draw with Scotland on Saturday. Na Bostjan Cesar first competitive match as head coach. The hosts no create plenty chances, only one shot on target, but defence hold Scotland and record first clean sheet since October 2025. Cesar side don win just one of five matches in 2026, and dem need first win of campaign to possibly move top of group.
North Macedonia arrive Ljubljana with poor form. Switzerland beat them 3-0 for opening League B Group 1 game. That result extend their winless run to eight matches. Dem no score for last five games. Their last goal come inside 7-1 defeat to Wales.
Goce Sedloski side promote from League C after unbeaten 2024-25 Nations League campaign, but dem struggle to copy that form. Risovi concede 16 goals across last four defeats, at least three each. Dem manage successive goalless draws against Republic of Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this year. Dem also no lose to Slovenia in last three meetings.
Team news: Vanja Drkusic injure for goalless draw against Scotland, ruled out. David Zec likely replace am. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak make important saves in that stalemate and set for 86th appearance for Slovenia. Andraz Sporar fit question, Swansea City forward Zan Vipotnik option to lead line. North Macedonia no get new injury from 3-0 defeat but fit change players as dem try stop bad run. Captain Enis Bardhi expected keep midfield place and make 84th appearance. Goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski go resume between sticks as e near 100 international games.
Possible lineups: Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Zec, Janza; Matko, Cerin, Elsnik, Sturm; Sporar. North Macedonia: Dimitrievski; Ilievski, Zajkov, Musliu, Herrera; Kostadinov, Gastarov, Bardhi, Elmas; Miovski, Rastoder.
For match itself, First Half end Slovenia 0, North Macedonia 0. Second Half begin Slovenia 0, North Macedonia 0. Jani Atanasov collect yellow card for bad foul. Erik Janza win free kick for defensive half. Foul by Jani Atanasov. Foul by Jaka Bijol. Azer Omeragikj win free kick attacking half. Then goal come for Slovenia. Sandi Lovric right footed shot from right side of box to high centre of goal. Assisted by Tjas Begic. Slovenia 1, North Macedonia 0.
Vanja Drkusic header from centre of box saved in centre of goal by Stole Dimitrievski, assisted by Danijel Sturm cross. Corner for Slovenia after Mario Mladenovski concede. Sandi Lovric win free kick on left wing when Dimitar Mitrovski foul am. Andrej Stojchevski collect yellow card for bad foul. Danijel Sturm win free kick on left wing. Danijel Sturm attempt miss with left foot from centre of box, close but miss left, assisted by Zan Vipotnik. Jaka Bijol win free kick for defensive half after Azer Omeragikj foul. Fourth official announce 0 minutes added time. Danijel Sturm attempt blocked, right footed shot from centre of box.
Before kickoff, Slovenia rank 56 for FIFA world ranking, North Macedonia 69. After first round group stage Slovenia dey third with one point, North Macedonia fourth with zero. Slovenia average 1.2 goals per game in last ten matches, score 12, concede 13. North Macedonia average zero goals per game in last one match, score zero, concede three. Slovenia no win any of last three, draw 1-1 with Cyprus, lose 2-1 to Croatia, draw 0-0 Scotland. Slovenia only one win from possible six internationals, draw three, lose two, score six, concede seven. North Macedonia get single draw in previous three, 0-0 against Bosnia-Herzegovina, then lose 4-0 Turkey and 0-3 Switzerland. North Macedonia last six internationals no win, draw two, lose four, outscored 18 goals to one.
Betting market see draw as option because Slovenia settle for point in several recent matches and North Macedonia fit take point home. Slovenia get 20% win rate against North Macedonia, who win two of these matches. Total record read 1-2-2. In past five matches between dem, both teams score four times. Zan Vipotnik score twice for country, one more than Bojan Miovski. Slovenia win three of previous 10 home matches across all tournaments, draw five, lose two. North Macedonia win three from possible 10 away, draw three, lose four. Over 2.5 goals happen two times in last five encounters. Slovenia average 1.2 goals a game, North Macedonia 1.4. Both teams score four times. Slovenia see over 2.5 goals in three of last ten across all tournaments, average 0.6 goals. Over 2.5 goals happen five of last ten for North Macedonia, who score 0.7 times in those matches.
Sportsmole expect Cesar side return to winning ways on Tuesday. North Macedonia winless in last eight games and head into clash as underdogs, so dem back hosts to secure 2-0 victory.
