Slovenia will look to build on a solid if unspectacular start to their UEFA Nations League campaign when North Macedonia visit Stadion Stožice on Tuesday evening.

Boštjan Cesar’s first competitive match as Slovenia head coach ended in a goalless draw with Scotland on Saturday, while North Macedonia endured a much more difficult opening night as Switzerland left Skopje with a convincing 3-0 victory.

With Switzerland and Scotland also meeting on Tuesday, three points in Ljubljana could immediately put Slovenia in a strong position in League B Group 1. For North Macedonia, the priority is simply to stop an alarming decline that has now left them without a victory in eight matches.

Slovenia have defensive foundations but need more in attack

There was plenty for Cesar to appreciate about his first competitive game in charge of Slovenia. His team kept Scotland scoreless, defended their penalty area effectively and had Jan Oblak available when the visitors did threaten. The clean sheet was Slovenia’s first since October 2025 and represented a welcome improvement following an inconsistent period.

Going forward, however, there was considerably less to celebrate. Slovenia managed only one shot on target and spent much of the second half defending as Scotland increasingly took control. Andraž Šporar briefly appeared to have given the hosts an early lead, only for his effort to be disallowed for offside.

It continued a familiar problem. Slovenia failed to win any of their six World Cup qualifiers and scored only three times during that campaign. Their four friendlies earlier this year produced one victory, a draw and two defeats, meaning Cesar inherited a team that had become difficult to beat at its best but rarely looked capable of overwhelming opponents.

Tuesday provides an opportunity to change that. North Macedonia arrive having conceded three goals against Switzerland and 16 across their last four defeats. If there is a fixture in which Slovenia can afford to play with greater attacking ambition, this appears to be it.

The continued absence of Benjamin Šeško nevertheless leaves Cesar without his outstanding individual attacking talent. Šeško missed the Scotland game as he continues his recovery from a shin problem, meaning Slovenia must again find a solution without the striker around whom their attack would normally be built.

Šporar started on Saturday, but Zan Vipotnik is an obvious alternative. The Swansea forward offers Cesar the option of making a change after such a limited attacking display against Scotland, while Tomi Horvat could also be introduced if the coach wants additional creativity closer to the striker.

Adam Gnezda Čerin and Timi Max Elšnik should again have important responsibilities in midfield, where Slovenia will expect to enjoy more possession than they did at the weekend.

There is also some uncertainty in defence. Drkušić was unable to complete the Scotland match after suffering severe cramp, although Cesar reported on Monday that his condition had improved. The defender was due to be carefully managed in the final training session before a decision was made over his involvement.

If Drkušić is not considered ready to start, Zec provides the most obvious replacement alongside Jaka Bijol. Whatever the combination in front of him, Oblak remains Slovenia’s greatest source of security. The Atlético Madrid goalkeeper made several important interventions against Scotland and should earn his 86th international cap on Tuesday. Against a North Macedonian attack enduring a prolonged scoring drought, he will be hoping for consecutive international clean sheets.

North Macedonia desperately searching for a response

North Macedonia’s previous Nations League campaign could hardly have gone much better. They went through League C unbeaten, winning five of their six matches and conceding only once as they secured promotion with considerable room to spare.

That version of North Macedonia suddenly feels a long way away. Goce Sedloski’s side are now without a victory in eight internationals, and Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat against Switzerland continued a particularly worrying sequence.

North Macedonia have not scored in five consecutive matches. Their last goal came during a remarkable 7-1 defeat against Wales, meaning even that provided little consolation. Subsequent matches have brought goalless draws against the Republic of Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina followed by heavy defeats against Türkiye and Switzerland.

The defensive numbers are equally concerning. North Macedonia have conceded 16 goals across their last four defeats, allowing at least three in each of them. That represents an extraordinary reversal from the team that conceded just once throughout its six-match 2024-25 Nations League campaign.

Sedloski knew this international window would test his squad. Four Nations League matches are being squeezed into 11 days, and the coach indicated when naming his squad that rotation would be necessary. He selected 28 players for precisely that reason and could make changes following Saturday’s demanding encounter with Switzerland.

Four uncapped players were included in the original squad: Anes Meljichi, Gjorgje Dzekov, Matej Gashtarov and Hristijan Maleski. Sedloski has made clear that more members of the group will receive opportunities during the international window.

One player who will not be involved is Nikola Serafimov, who was ruled out through injury before the campaign began. The experienced core remains intact. Stole Dimitrievski should continue in goal, while captain Enis Bardhi and Eljif Elmas provide the midfield quality North Macedonia desperately need to rediscover.

Bojan Miovski offers an established option in attack, with Elmin Rastoder another possibility after featuring against Switzerland.

For all their recent difficulties, North Macedonia do at least have a favourable recent record against Tuesday’s opponents. They are unbeaten in the last three meetings between the countries and have historically caused Slovenia problems. Across seven previous encounters, North Macedonia have recorded four victories compared with Slovenia’s one, with the other two finishing level.

Their most memorable recent meeting came during Euro 2020, when the sides drew 1-1 in their opening group match in Bucharest.

History can only provide limited encouragement given North Macedonia’s present form, but Sedloski will hope familiarity with Slovenia can help his team settle after Saturday’s damaging start.

The first objective must surely be defensive stability. North Macedonia cannot continue conceding goals at their current rate and expect their attacking confidence to recover. Keeping the contest tight for as long as possible would give Bardhi, Elmas and Miovski the opportunity to make an individual moment count. Another early concession could produce a very different evening.

Verdict

Slovenia were far from convincing against Scotland, particularly in possession, and Šeško’s absence continues to deprive them of the player most capable of transforming a tight game.

But Tuesday’s opposition offers a very different challenge. North Macedonia have gone eight matches without winning, five without scoring and have conceded 16 goals across their last four defeats. The confidence generated by their excellent previous Nations League campaign has disappeared remarkably quickly.

Slovenia at least demonstrated on Saturday that their defensive structure remains reliable, and Oblak gives them an additional layer of security behind it.

Cesar will want considerably more attacking ambition this time, and Vipotnik, Šporar and Slovenia’s midfielders should find more space than they were afforded against Scotland.

It may not be spectacular, but Slovenia should have enough to give Cesar his first competitive victory as national-team coach.

Tip: Slovenia to win