NK Celje
11 August 2026 at 19:15 BST, in the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, Slovenian side Celje host Ararat-Armenia at Stadion Z'dezele.
Ararat-Armenia made use of home advantage and secured a one-goal lead (2:1), but that is still nowhere near a guarantee of reaching the play-off round.
Celje lost in Yerevan, but they can still take positives from that match. First, a one-goal deficit is recoverable given the team's attacking output. Second, the Slovenians were the more active side for much of the game.
Celje opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute and then did not allow their opponents to create anything meaningful from open play. The hosts equalised thanks to a superb free-kick from Artur Serobyan. The execution was no worse than Bruno Fernandes. In the second half, the blue and yellows even had more shots at Joao Bravim's goal (10-6). It is logical that Vitor Campelos' team are favourites for the home match: the odds on them have dropped below 1.50. They will also be given confidence by their win over one of their main domestic rivals, Olimpija Ljubljana (1:0).
Ararat-Armenia's win should not be played down, but they achieved the positive result not through dominance or methodical combination play, but thanks to Serobyan's individual quality and a counter-attack also finished with a fine strike by Carlos Henrique. That is a risky route — next time it may not fly in. And the visitors will not be allowed to control the ball. Ararat-Armenia have already got past two opponents, but lost by one goal to both in their away matches. Back then, a two-goal home advantage was enough; this time they do not have that.
Still, one converted shot from 16, and that from the penalty spot, suggests Celje will not manage to secure a comfortable margin. Ararat-Armenia have scored in six consecutive away matches in European competition. So the bet on Ararat-Armenia (+1.5) handicap has a realistic chance of landing.
Marco Guida (Italy)
Matches – 10 (international matches, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 21;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 2.4;
Matches with red cards – 0 out of 10;
Matches with penalties – 2 out of 10.
|
Zoran Zeljkovic
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Žan-Luk Leban
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Artemijus Tutyškinas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Leonárdo Páblo Koútris
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pijus Širvys
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Darko Hrka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mario Kvesić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mark Zabukovnik
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Milot Avdyli
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Svit Sešlar
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Armandas Kučys
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Matic Ivanšek
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Luka Kolar
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Žiga Frelih
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alpha Richard Diounkou Tecagne
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Damjan Vukliševič
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ivan Ćalušić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andrej Kotnik
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Benjamin Verbič
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yaya Dukuly
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Matej Poplatnik
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rudi Požeg Vancaš
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Veton Tusha
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tulipa
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
João Victor Donna Bravim
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alexandros Malis
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bruno Ricardo Valdez Wilson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Edgar Grigoryan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Hugo da Silva Oliveira
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
José Junior Julio Bueno
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alwyn Luheni Tera
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Karen Muradyan
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zidane Agustini Banjaqui
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Artur Serobyan
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sandro César Cordovil de Lima
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Arman Nersesyan
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bruno Martins Pereira
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luís Felipe Hungria Martins
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Maxence Carlier
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arayik Eloyan
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bernardo Oliveira Dias
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Juan Andrés Balanta Palacios
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Michel Ayvazyan
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alioune Badou Ndour
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Carlos Henrique França Freires
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Paul Ayongo
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Zhirayr Shaghoyan
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Ararat-Armenia
NK Celje
NK Celje
Egnatia Rrogozhine
Egnatia Rrogozhine
NK Celje
AEK Athens
NK Celje
NK Celje
AEK Athens
NK Celje
Drita
Drita
NK Celje
NK Celje
Shelbourne
Rijeka
NK Celje
Sigma Olomouc
NK Celje
Ararat-Armenia
NK Celje
Shamrock Rovers
Ararat-Armenia
Ararat-Armenia
Shamrock Rovers
FC Riga
Ararat-Armenia
Ararat-Armenia
FC Riga
Ararat-Armenia
Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague
Ararat-Armenia
Universitatea Cluj
Ararat-Armenia
Ararat-Armenia
Universitatea Cluj
Puskás AFC
Ararat-Armenia
Champions League 2026/27
Ararat-Armenia
NK Celje
Europa League 2020-2021
Ararat-Armenia
NK Celje
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20:5 | 12 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13:7 | 12 |
|
3
|
Arsenal
|
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8:3 | 10 |
|
4
|
Como
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 19:6 | 9 |
|
5
|
Barcelona
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:6 | 9 |
|
6
|
Aston Villa
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:6 | 9 |
|
7
|
Manchester City
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
8
|
Liverpool
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:10 | 9 |
|
9
|
Brugge
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11:7 | 9 |
|
10
|
Sporting CP
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:4 | 9 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 9 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 9 |
|
13
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12:5 | 8 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7:4 | 7 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:6 | 6 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10:9 | 6 |
|
17
|
Manchester United
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 6 |
|
18
|
Galatasaray
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:9 | 6 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6:11 | 5 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10:8 | 4 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:4 | 4 |
|
22
|
Viking
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9:10 | 4 |
|
23
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:5 | 4 |
|
24
|
PSV
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:4 | 4 |
|
25
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:9 | 4 |
|
26
|
Porto
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:7 | 3 |
|
27
|
Napoli
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:11 | 3 |
|
28
|
Villarreal
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8:14 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
31
|
FK Sabah
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 3 |
|
32
|
Feyenoord
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:11 | 3 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:16 | 3 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4:10 | 1 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1:17 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
4
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:1 | 6 |
|
5
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
6
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
7
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:3 | 6 |
|
9
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:2 | 6 |
|
10
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6:5 | 5 |
|
11
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
12
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
13
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:4 | 4 |
|
14
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
18
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
23
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
25
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
27
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
29
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
30
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
31
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
32
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:11 | 0 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:5 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 7 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:5 | 6 |
|
4
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 6 |
|
7
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 4 |
|
8
|
Como
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11:4 | 3 |
|
9
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
10
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
11
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 3 |
|
12
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
17
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 1 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
22
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
23
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
24
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0:3 | 1 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
27
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
29
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
31
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
32
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
33
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
|
35
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:14 | 0 |
