Recap
Maribor have undergone significant changes in recent months, with the return of sporting director Zlatko Zahovič and coach Darko Milanič representing a major statement of intent. The duo were responsible for some of the greatest achievements in the club’s history and their return has immediately brought renewed optimism and ambition to the club.
Maribor have also strengthened their squad with several quality additions, including Žan Karičnik from Celje, Feta from Aluminij, Lainović from Čukarički, Jevšenak and Mlakar from Pisa, Gonçalves from Legia Warsaw and several other reinforcements. The club appears to have improved its overall organization and has also re-established a stronger connection with its supporters.
Another major advantage is that Maribor have no European commitments this season. Their entire focus can therefore be placed on the Slovenian league, giving them an important advantage in terms of preparation, recovery and consistency.
Aluminij, meanwhile, are facing an entirely different situation. They enjoyed a historic campaign last season, winning the Slovenian Cup and earning qualification for the Europa League, but the squad that achieved that success has now been largely dismantled.
No fewer than 11 players have left the club, including their two leading scorers:
❌ Feta (30/10) – top scorer
❌ Saitoski (29/9) – second-highest scorer
❌ Zeljković (28/1)
❌ Kosi (25/0)
❌ Feratović (17/1)
❌ Pečnik (14/0)
❌ Korun (13/1)
❌ Maher (13/0)
❌ Evangelou (9/0)
❌ Stamenković (6/0)
❌ Petriško (4/0)
Their pre-season results have done little to inspire confidence. Aluminij were held to draws by third-tier side Rače and Armenian club Pyunik, while suffering defeats against Noah and Partizan. These results suggest that the team is still searching for stability and cohesion following the extensive changes to the squad.
Their European campaign has also been demanding. They were fortunate to escape with a goalless draw against Sheriff in Moldova before losing the return leg 0-1. With another Conference League match against Dinamo Tirana scheduled just four days after this fixture, further rotation could be expected.
Maribor, in contrast, are fully focused on the domestic campaign and have made significant improvements both on and off the pitch. With a stronger squad, greater stability and the motivation to start the season positively, they appear to have a clear advantage.