LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (Interstat) — Ilirija faces NK Zeleznicar Maribor on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in a 1. Mladinska Liga matchup that pits one of Slovenia’s hottest youth sides against a visiting team riding a wave of recent success.

Ilirija enters the contest on a high after a commanding 4-1 victory at Krka on Friday, April 24. That win continued a strong stretch for the home side, which has won three of its last four matches. Since the start of April, Ilirija has defeated NK Kety Emmi&Impol Bistrica 2-1 and Koper U19 3-2, while also posting a 1-0 shutout of NK Rudar Velenje U19 and a scoreless draw with Rudar. The only blemish in that span was a 2-1 loss to Slovan Ljubljana on April 8.

NK Zeleznicar Maribor, meanwhile, has been one of the league’s most consistent performers. The visiting side carries a 2-1 win over NK Rudar Velenje U19 from Sunday, April 19, and has dropped just two of its last 10 league matches — both by narrow 2-1 margins against Brinje Grosup U19 on April 13 and Mura U19 on Dec. 4, 2025. Overall, NK Zeleznicar Maribor owns a 7-1-2 record dating to late November, with the lone loss coming on the road at Brinje Grosup.

The head-to-head history favors the visitors. In the most recent meeting on Oct. 22, 2025, NK Zeleznicar Maribor defeated Ilirija 4-2 at home. That result is part of a broader trend: the Maribor youth squad has outscored Ilirija 6-3 over their last two encounters.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-1 win for NK Zeleznicar Maribor, and the ELO-based system gives the visitors a 70.90 percent probability of victory. That statistical edge reflects NK Zeleznicar Maribor’s deeper run of form and superior head-to-head record.

Ilirija will aim to reverse that fortune on its home pitch. The team has shown scoring punch lately, netting four goals against Krka and three against Koper. But NK Zeleznicar Maribor’s disciplined defense has allowed more than one goal only twice in its last nine outings.

Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday. Ilirija’s schedule beyond this game includes home matches against Nafta on April 30 and Bilje on May 9, while NK Zeleznicar Maribor will look to build on its strong season with a road win in Ljubljana.