Vienna, November 17 - Group B3 of the UEFA Nations League comes down to a winner-take-all showdown on Sunday as group leaders Austria host Slovenia at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.
Austria currently sit top of the group with 10 points, level with Norway. However, Ralf Rangnick’s side hold the advantage on head-to-head after their 5-1 thrashing of Norway last month. A victory over Slovenia would secure Austria’s promotion back to League A.
Slovenia, meanwhile, are third in the group on 7 points after a 4-1 home defeat to Norway in their last outing. Matjaz Kek’s team must win to have any chance of finishing in the top two and earning a playoff spot for promotion.
The reverse fixture between the two sides earlier in the campaign ended 1-1 in Ljubljana. Austria have won the three previous meetings, including 1-0 home and away victories in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Austria come into the match in strong form, winning their last three Nations League games and scoring 11 goals in the process. They cruised to a 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan in their most recent fixture.
Slovenia, on the other hand, have won just one of their last eight competitive matches, that victory coming against Kazakhstan in Euro 2024 qualifying. Their only other points in this Nations League campaign have come against minnows Kazakhstan.
With the permutations in Group B3 so tight, Sunday’s clash in Vienna promises to be a tense affair as both sides battle for a crucial promotion spot.
- Score Prediction: Austria 2-0 Slovenia
