The Australian women's national football team, the Matildas, are set to face Slovenia in an international friendly today at HBF Park. This match marks the first of a double-header between the two nations, with Australia also scheduled to play two friendlies against Panama in the coming days.

This game provides a valuable opportunity for the Matildas to continue building momentum after a mixed bag of results earlier in the year. Following a disappointing showing at the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, where they lost all three games, the team has bounced back with four consecutive wins. In their most recent outing, they convincingly defeated Argentina 4-1, showcasing their attacking prowess. Amy Sayers' brace set the tone, while Emily van Egmond and Michelle Heyman added further goals to complete the rout.

For Slovenia, this match presents a chance to test themselves against a top-tier opponent. Their most recent game was a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ireland in the UEFA Women's Nations League, where Saoirse Noonan's early goal proved decisive. While Slovenia may be considered the underdogs in this encounter, they are certainly capable of causing an upset.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Australia and Slovenia's women's national teams, adding an element of intrigue to the contest. Australia's recent form, coupled with home advantage, makes them the favorites. They'll be looking to continue their winning streak and fine-tune their preparations for upcoming challenges.

Several key players will likely be instrumental for the Matildas. Emily van Egmond's experience and creativity in midfield will be vital, while the likes of Amy Sayers and Michelle Heyman will aim to continue their goal-scoring form. Defensively, the Matildas will need to be solid to contain Slovenia's attacking threats.

Slovenia will be looking to their key players to step up and make a difference. Their defense will need to be well-organized and disciplined to withstand Australia's attacking pressure. In attack, they'll need to be clinical in taking any chances that come their way.

Overall, this friendly match promises to be an interesting encounter between two teams with different ambitions. Australia will be aiming to continue their winning momentum and fine-tune their squad, while Slovenia will be looking to test themselves against a strong opponent and potentially cause an upset.