Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Conference League match.
Lugano enter the second leg against Celje in desperate need of a turnaround, having lost the first match and extended their winless streak. The Swiss side have struggled for form, while Celje hold a crucial advantage despite a slip-up in their domestic league.
Lugano
The defeat on 6 March was the latest in a worrying run for Lugano. Their subsequent 1:2 loss to Sion, who sit ninth in the Swiss Super League, stretched their losing streak to five matches. To make matters worse, they will be without two key players due to suspensions—central defender Antonios Papadopoulos was sent off in the first leg, while captain and winger Mattia Bottani accumulated too many yellow cards.
Celje
The Slovenian club will also miss a key figure, as centre-back Klemen Nemanič is suspended after a booking in stoppage time. Until now, he has featured in every European match for Celje this season. While they kept back-to-back clean sheets against APOEL and Lugano, this is an exception rather than the rule—Celje have generally struggled defensively, conceding in most of their European games.
Lugano vs Celje Prediction
Lugano’s form makes it difficult to back them for progression, but their need to attack should lead to an open game. Both teams have defensive absences that could lead to vulnerabilities at the back. Expect goals at both ends.
