- 1 Celje vs Slovan Bratislava: one-all at Tehelne pole, with history on the line
- 2 Celje: three straight wins and a familiar kind of test
- 3 Slovan Bratislava: Yaya Toure unbeaten, but the first leg slipped away
- 4 Champions League prediction Celje vs Slovan Bratislava
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information that changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Celje vs Slovan Bratislava: one-all at Tehelne pole, with history on the line 
The first leg between Slovan Bratislava and Celje ended 1-1 at the Narodny futbalovy stadion on August 19. The return is on Wednesday, August 26 at 21:00 at Stadion Z’dezele in Celje.
Roman Cerepkai put the Slovaks ahead in the 15th minute. Milot Avdyli levelled in the 41st with a curling finish that brought the sides back to square one before the break.
That result leaves the Slovenian champions staring at the biggest night in their European history. Celje have never reached the Champions League main phase and have never played in either of UEFA’s top two club competitions.
Their run has been built on two tight, nervy ties. Egnatia were beaten on penalties after a 5-5 aggregate draw, then Ararat-Armenia went down 3-2 over two legs.
Slovan Bratislava, meanwhile, are chasing a second place in the main draw. Their first, in 2024, ended with a 35th-place finish in a 36-team league table.
The clubs know each other well, having met in the second qualifying round two years ago. Slovan won that one 6-1 on aggregate.
There is, though, a bit of comfort for the Slovenians. Even if they go out, Celje are guaranteed a place in the Europa League league phase, which would be another first in the club’s history.
The winner of this tie goes into the Champions League league phase. The loser drops into the Europa League, which softens the blow for both clubs.
The league phase draw is set for Thursday, August 27. By the day after the match, both sides will know exactly what their European autumn looks like.
Celje: three straight wins and a familiar kind of test 
Celje head into this second leg on a run of three straight wins. The latest, against Nafta Lendava, keeps them in Maribor’s slipstream at the top of the PrvaLiga.
This season’s European campaign is already the longest the club has ever managed in Champions League qualifying. Their previous best came with a second-round exit six summers ago.
The comeback against Ararat-Armenia summed this side up. Outplayed for long spells in the away leg, the Slovenians turned it around late.
Benjamin Verbič scored the decisive goal in that round. The winger has returned to the club where it all began after 11 years away, and his experience matters on nights like this.
Mario Kvesic is the other main attacking outlet, with four goals in four qualifying matches. His link-up with Verbič is feeding Armandas Kucys or Matej Poplatnik up front.
Yaya Dukuly, the Australia Under-23 international, adds another threat. He scored against Nafta Lendava and netted a late, vital goal against Ararat.
Vitor Campelos wants his players to be bold for this one. The Portuguese coach said after the first leg that his team grew into the game as it went on.
Stadion Z’dezele is hardly a giant, but the atmosphere will be unlike anything Celje have known. No Slovenian club other than Maribor has ever reached this stage.
Celje have also played in the Conference League round of 16 in each of the past two seasons. That sort of continental mileage is a decent asset, and one they did not have two years ago when they met Slovan.
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Slovan Bratislava: Yaya Toure unbeaten, but the first leg slipped away 
Slovan Bratislava have been coached since this summer by Yaya Toure, the 2009 Champions League winner. The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder is in his first senior managerial role.
So far, the numbers are strong: six wins and a draw from his first seven matches. The draw against Celje is the only blemish on that record.
In the league, the Slovaks are the only unbeaten side left, with three wins from three. Saturday’s 5-0 demolition of Ruzomberok underlined just how solid they look as a unit.
Their European run has been clean enough so far. Iberia Tbilisi were beaten 3-1 over two legs, then Mjallby were knocked out 4-1 in the next round.
Toure rotated his squad the weekend before the first leg, a clear sign where his priorities lay. Rahim Ibrahim and the senior players should come back in from the start in Celje.
Samuel Kozlovsky, Alexej Maros and Japanese midfielder Daiki Matsuoka all scored their first goals for Slovan in the win over Ruzomberok. Tigran Barseghyan, who scored against Celje two years ago, is available.
The attack, though, still has a question mark hanging over it. A muscle injury to Mykola Kukharevych has forced the return of Andraz Sporar, the Slovenian forward who will be facing compatriots on this occasion.
The 2024-25 meeting still lingers in the background. Slovan drew the first leg, then blew Celje away in the return for a 6-1 aggregate win.
The difference this time is the order of the fixtures. Celje have home advantage in the second leg, so Slovan will have to get the job done away from home.
Toure has also made it a perfect domestic start since taking over. Three wins from three, including that 5-0 against Ruzomberok, put Slovan top of the Super Liga on their own.
Probable Celje line-up: Not available at time of publication.
Probable Slovan Bratislava line-up: Not available at time of publication.
Champions League prediction Celje vs Slovan Bratislava
Our prediction: Double chance Celje or draw
Slovan had home advantage in the first leg and did not make it count. Celje now have something real to lean on: an away goal and a second leg in front of their own fans.
The Slovenians’ form backs the call. Three straight league wins, a hard-fought escape against Ararat-Armenia and an attack led by Kvesic, who has scored four times in four qualifying games.
Slovan are still the more polished side, but the uncertainty around their main striker with Kukharevych sidelined trims their margin. Celje do not lose at Stadion Z’dezele: that’s the play.
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