Friday spectacle in the youth Eon NextGen league: The top clubs of the competition will clash, with Maribor hosting Mura in Ljudski vrt

Published on 26. April 2024 26. April 2024

Photo: Žan Pak

Four rounds before the end of the 2023/24 season, a match will be played in the youth Eon NextGen league that could have a crucial impact on the title race. In Ljudski vrtu, Maribor and Mura, the top two teams in the league, will face each other. Maribor holds just a two-point lead over Mura, while third-placed Olimpija is not far behind – trailing the top two by four and two points respectively.

Maribor will undoubtedly aim for a victory to take a significant step towards securing the national championship and qualifying for the UEFA Youth League. The match in Ljudski vrt will kick off at 4 p.m., and it will be directly broadcasted by Sportklub on their main channel. In the youth Eon NextGen league, matches today also include Rudar Velenje – Celje (16:30), Olimpija – Krka, Koper – Bravo, and Radomlje – Gorica (all at 17:00). The 27th round will conclude on Sunday with matches Aluminij – Brinje Grosuplje, Ilirija – Nafta, and Tabor – Domžale (all at 17:00).

“Preparations are going according to plan; we are focusing on ourselves to ensure we are in the right shape. We want to make sure our game flows. Therefore, it is important that we give our best in every training session, which has been our motto all along. We have been even more successful in the spring part of the season. Although the advantage over our opponents is not significant, we will have to put in a strong effort, but I believe we can also defeat Mura,” said Luka Poredoš, the captain of Maribor’s youth team, ahead of the match against their rivals from Prekmurje.

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Poredoš added for the club’s website: “Things are going as we wish; we are in very good form. We train well and try to transfer that to the matches. An excellent atmosphere within the team means a lot as well. We are like a larger, extended family. We are very connected, support each other, and trust each other, which is reflected on the field. However, we must not rely on past achievements, as we are aware that our advantage can quickly slip away.”

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As mentioned, the match will be played in Ljudski vrtu, and it is expected that quite a few spectators will watch it live. For Dejan Dončić’s team, this will be an additional motivation, as acknowledged by Luka Poredoš: “It is always a privilege to play at this stadium. We don’t often have the opportunity, so we said to ourselves, let’s enjoy every moment. Playing on the main field brings increased motivation, as well as the view of the stands. Against Domžale, we were somewhat surprised by the number of spectators. I hope even more people will gather this time. Football is played for the fans, and I believe we will have a good turnout in the next match. We are fighting for the title, and support from the stands would mean a lot to us.”

Maribor U19 Photo credit: NK Maribor