Slovenia have not had a great start to the UEFA Nations League tournament picking up just one point from nine points possible.
Serbia have been the opposite. The Serbians have played strongly with six points from nine points on offer in League B Group 4. After losing their Nations League opener to Norway 1-0, Serbia defeated Slovenia 4-1 before downing Sweden 1-0.
🇸🇮 @oblakjan je igralec tekme po izboru uredništva NZS. #SrceBije #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/ljL7N8rlaw— NZS | FA Slovenia (@nzs_si) June 9, 2022
🇸🇮 @oblakjan je igralec tekme po izboru uredništva NZS. #SrceBije #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/ljL7N8rlaw
Slovenia lost 2-0 at home to Sweden to start the tournament. They followed up the defeat with a 4-1 loss to Sebia. Matchday 3 was better from Slovenia as they pulled off a nil-nil draw away to Norway.
These teams have met just three times previously. The matches were split one win apiece along with a draw.
Serbia’s top stars rose to the occasion against Slovenia in the reverse fixture. Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added another. Slovenia’s Petar Stojanovic scored between Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic's strikes.
The Serbians continued to pile on the pressure with two further goals. Luka Jovic added a third with five minutes to play and Nemanja Radonjic scored a fourth goal.
Manager Dragan Stojkovic played a 3-4-1-2 formation against Slovenia in the reverse game. Serbia’s Mitrovic started in attack with Dorde Jovanovic. Milinkovic-Savic played as a No. 10 in between the two strikers.
Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek used a 5-3-2 formation against Sebia in the reverse fixture. Benjamin Sesko and Miha Zajc were deployed as the teams two strikers. Jan Oblak will likely start in goal once more and wear the captain’s armband.
A win for Serbia could send them into first place in League B Group 4. Norway are just one point ahead of Serbia going into matchday 4. Norway have a difficult game against Sweden.
Both managers could rotate their squads for the game. With the Nations League coming on the heels of the club football season, players are showing some fatigue at the tournament.
Kek could give Sporting Lisbon striker Andraz Sporar a start in attack. He has five international goals and Sporaz could play next to Sesko this time around.
Mitrovic will likely be nailed on to start versus Slovenia. The question will be which striker plays with him? Will Jovic or Jovanovic get the nod in the attack?
Matchday 4 of the Nations League should be different than the previous meeting between these clubs. Rather than a win for Serbia, this game should finish in a score draw with under 2.5 goals scored.