Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
Heading into the penultimate round of the Nations League, Slovenia, Norway, and Austria are level on points, each with seven. Norway currently top the standings. They are well-positioned to maintain their lead even without Martin Ødegaard in the lineup, especially since their captain, Erling Haaland, is motivated following a disappointing spell at his club.
Slovenia
Slovenia maximised their points against the group's underdog Kazakhstan, securing two clean-sheet victories (3:0 and 1:0). However, when playing in Oslo against Norway, they unexpectedly faltered (0:3), creating significantly fewer chances (0.79-2.33 in xG and 2-14 in shots on target). In their fourth match against Kazakhstan, it was evident that Slovenia struggled to play in a possession-based style, as they are more accustomed to counter-attacking.
Norway
Before their painful defeat to Austria (1:5), Norway were in fine form with two wins. Even the setback in Linz wasn't critical; in terms of expected goals, the Scandinavians weren't far from their rival (0.80-2.28 in xG), indicating they can create chances without Martin Ødegaard. Ståle Solbakken is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 formation, featuring Alexander Sørloth operating on the flank.
Slovenia vs Norway Prediction
Norway's convincing victory over Slovenia in their previous encounter makes them the favourites for the upcoming match. A reliable handicap (0) on the visitors is the smartest pick in this matchup. The Slovenians currently lack the quality compared to the Norwegians, making success unlikely for them.
