Norway vs Slovenia: At opposite ends of their beginning UEFA Nations League table, group leaders Norway welcome last Slovenia in Oslo on Thursday evening.
While the Norwegians secured a second successive Group 4 victory in League B on Sunday by beating their Nordic neighbors Sweden, the visitors remain without a point after a crushing defeat in Belgrade.
Match preview
Proudly atop their Nations League group with two wins from two, Norway have already racked up six points before taking to the pitch at Ullevaal Stadion for the home opener of their 2022-23 campaign.
The latest victims of a promising race for Steel SolbakkenTheThe young side was made up of regional rivals Sweden, whom Norway had beaten.
Just 24 times in 109 previous attempts, and they have now won four games in a row after winning in Stockholm last weekend.
Since failing to qualify for this winter’s World Cup, the Lions have won back-to-back friendly wins in the spring, before toppling Serbia last week in a rather fortuitous 1-0 victory at the “Marakana”.
On that occasion – as against Sweden, when he scored in either half of a 2-1 win – Norway called on the young striker’s predatory skills.
Erling Haalandwhowho has now scored 40 times in just 37 appearances for club and country since the start of last season.
After putting his team ahead from the penalty spot, following a questionable decision from the officials, Haaland doubled their lead after the interval.
With the Manchester City star apparently in no mood to rest this summer, Norway could aim for unprecedented Nations. Championship success.
After finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group, the Norwegians are still awaiting a return to the final for the first time since 1998, but after clinching second place.
Their 2020-21 Nations League section – a laudable result at League B level – the current Solbakken crop are now perfectly placed to take the lead in Group 4.
NOR vs SER
Unlike their ascendant mobile hosts, Slovenia have struggled somewhat over the past year, and their only victories over this period have come.
Against international minnows Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus.Matjaz Kek‘s men also missed out on qualifying for the World Cup; failing to even qualify.
The playoffs due to finishing fourth in their group behind Croatia, Russia and Slovakia.In their first attempt at the second tier of the Nations League today.
Slovenia suffered back-to-back defeats to start this summer’s fixture, having crumbled in the second half of their clash with Serbia on Sunday.
Norway vs Slovenia Latest News:
Despite the level through Petar StojanovicAfterAfter Kek’s half-hour equalizer, Kek saw his side conceded three times.
After the break, and they now find themselves bottom of the Group 4 table. With no points on the board and six goals conceded.
Playing at League B level was always going to be a challenge for a side that beat Greece to promotion in 2020.
Going unbeaten in six group matches but losing both at the weekend and to Sweden at home to Ljubljana, relegation could already be on the cards.
Form of the Nations League of Norway:
Form of Norway (all competitions):
Slovenia Nations League form:
Slovenia form (all competitions):
Team News
Staale Solbakken may be reluctant to make too many changes to a winning side on Thursday. But given the fast pace.
between games in this busy international period. Norway’s starting XI may look a little different for their easiest match on paper.
Both king joshua and Jens Petter Hauge will be looking to break into the hosts’ top three. While Mohamed Elyounoussi.
Where Alexander Sorloth could miss.This weekend, Erling Haaland took his international goals tally to 18.
Just 19 games – just two behind King’s best tally for active players. And they set to start as the center point of the trio.
With the Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer absent from squad. Brighton’s Leo Ostigard – who finished last season on loan at Genoa – is expected to link up
Again with a colleague who recently beat him to survive in Serie A at club level. The Salernitana centre-back Stefan Strandberg.
Meanwhile, Slovenia dropped the regular striker Andraz Sporar at the weekend – preferring RB Salzburg Benjamin Sesko and Miha Zajc instead
But the former Middlesbrough loanee could be drafted in early. Despite a negative result in Belgrade. The visitors are expected to stick to a five-man defender.
With Sunday striker Petar Stojanovic at right-back of Atlético de Madrid Jan Oblak captains on the side of his position as the last line of defense.
Possible starting line-up from Norway:
Uusimaa; Ryerson, Strandberg, Ostigard, Meling; Thorsby, Bergé, Odegaard; Hauge, Haaland, King
Possible starting line-up for Slovenia:
Cloud; Stojanovic, Mevlja, Bijol, Blazic, Sikosek; Crnigoj, Kurtic, Zajc; Sesko, Sporar
We say: Norway 2-1 Slovenia
The chances of Norwary starting their campaign with three straight wins would have been pretty long before the action kicked off last week.
But having seen stronger challengers they are sure not to slip away at home with Slovenia vulnerable defensively. With the hosts conceding just one goal.
In their last four matches, the Lions are set to roar top of a tough group before Sweden come in. town on Sunday.
