Ljutomer vs Šmartno - 3. SNL - East

A fascinating 3. SNL - East chapter awaits on September 26, 2026 when Ljutomer take on Šmartno at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Both Ljutomer and Šmartno will be eager to build momentum when they meet in 3. SNL - East. It has been a solid if unspectacular run for the hosts — DLWLW across their last five with a win rate of 40% — and they will want to push on from here. Šmartno travel in decent nick, LWWDL in their last five and a win rate of 40% this season. The contrast in attacking output — 1.8 versus 1.6 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. The 24-year-old finished first in one of Arsenal's big pre-season testing challenges - a 1.4km run at full pace.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. It isn't clear yet that this will definitely be a winger, with Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana flexible over their attack.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. Once that deal is completed, Coventry want to bring in a left-back and a right winger, while there is also a possibility they target a new striker.

With the sides closely matched, the outcome may well hinge on which team takes its chances on the day. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the 3. SNL - East picture. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.