Nations League· Season 2026
Slovenia swept Brazil 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-20) in Ljubljana for their first VNL win over the South Americans, powered by Klemen Čebulj's all-round performance.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Set 1 — Slovenia 27-25 Brazil The opening set was a tight, high-quality battle. Brazil led for much of the early phase, but Slovenia stayed within striking distance. At 24-23 to Brazil, Slovenia saved a set point and then traded points until 25-25. A well-timed block on the Brazilian opposite and a kill from Slovenia's outside hitter gave the hosts the set 27-25 — a momentum-shifting start.
Set 2 — Slovenia 25-17 Brazil The second set was where Slovenia took full control. With the crowd behind them, the Slovenian block and defence tightened considerably. Brazil's reception faltered under sustained pressure from Slovenia's jump servers. A string of unforced errors from Brazil allowed Slovenia to race to a commanding lead. By the time Brazil regrouped, the deficit was too large to close.
Set 3 — Slovenia 25-20 Brazil Brazil tried to fight back with changes in personnel, briefly leading 10-8. But Slovenia responded with a decisive 5-0 run, powered by aggressive attacking from the left side. Brazil's block, usually a strength, struggled to contain Slovenia's varied attack patterns. Slovenia closed the match with a clean kill down the line, sealing the sweep.
The turning point
The opening set was the decisive phase. Slovenia's ability to save a set point and then force errors from Brazil at 25-25 changed the entire complexion of the match. Brazil, who had beaten Serbia 3-1 and USA 3-2 earlier in the tournament, looked rattled after losing a set they had controlled. They never recovered their rhythm.
Key performers
Player of the Match: Klemen Čebulj (Slovenia) — The veteran outside hitter led Slovenia's offence with crucial kills in all three sets, particularly in the clutch moments of the first set. His attacking efficiency and composure under pressure set the tone.
Tine Urnaut (Slovenia) — A steadying presence on the left side, Urnaut scored consistently from the pipe and provided excellent passing in reception.
Alen Pajenk (Slovenia) — His blocking at the net disrupted Brazil's primary attackers, notably closing the middle of the court in sets two and three.
Alan (Brazil) — Brazil's opposite hitter carried much of the scoring load but received limited support as Slovenia's block focused on shutting down the middle.
By the numbers
The 27-25 first-set scoreline reflects a set that could have gone either way, but the 25-17 and 25-20 margins in sets two and three tell the story of Slovenia's growing dominance. Slovenia's service pressure — a hallmark of their game in Ljubljana this week — forced Brazil into negative reception patterns, neutralising the quick middle attacks that had been Brazil's weapon earlier in the tournament.
For Brazil, the defeat means they have now lost both their Week 2 matches in Ljubljana, having fallen to Ukraine 2-3 on Wednesday. The South Americans scored at least 25 points in only one set across their last two matches.
What it means
The win lifts Slovenia to 4-1 in the VNL 2026 standings (9 points), putting them firmly in contention for a top-eight finish and qualification for the VNL Finals. Brazil drops to 4-2 (11 points), still well placed but needing to arrest their Ljubljana slide when they face Italy on Sunday 28 June (20:30 local).
Slovenia's next fixture is against Italy at Arena Stožice on Sunday 28 June at 20:30 local time — a match that could determine the outright pool leader in Ljubljana.
Verdict
Slovenia were sharper, more disciplined and tactically superior on home soil. Brazil, missing some of the rhythm that carried them to four straight wins to open the tournament, could not handle the combination of Slovenia's serving and blocking. This result is a serious statement from a Slovenian side finding peak form at the right time.
Slovenia and Brazil have met 8 times — Slovenia won 1, Brazil won 7, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2018. Brazil leads the head-to-head with 7 victories from 8 meetings. A combined 32 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.00 per match (9 for the home side, 23 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 6 matches (75%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 8 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–3 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 28 Jun 2026