Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: 888sport
Both teams are aiming to advance to the league phase of the revamped Champions League as Celje and Slovan Bratislava face off in the first leg of their second-round qualifier on Wednesday night.
The Yellow and Blues advanced from the first round of qualifying with ease against Estonian opponents, while the Sky Blues comfortably defeated a club from North Macedonia.
NK Celje
Starting their Champions League journey from the earliest stage, Celje showcased their attacking prowess against Flora, advancing comfortably to the second round of qualifying with a dominant 7-1 aggregate victory over the Estonian side.
Despite missing a penalty, Aljosa Matko, the Yellow and Blues’ main marksman, scored twice against Flora earlier this month. The 24-year-old is aiming to surpass his impressive tally of 20 goals from the 2023-24 season.
After securing a clash with Slovan Bratislava, Celje kicked off their Slovenian Prva Liga title defense with a win against NK Bravo. An own goal from Nemanja Jaksic and a goal from Armandas Kucys secured the victory for Wednesday’s hosts.
Celje lost just five matches in the entire Slovenian top-flight season, cruising to their second-ever league crown with a 12-point lead over Maribor, who are now competing in the Conference League.
Last year, Celje competed in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, successfully navigating ties with Portugal’s Vitoria de Guimaraes and Belarus’s Neman Grodno before losing 5-2 on aggregate to Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv in the playoff round.
Team News
After rotating players for the second match, Celje are set to revert to the starting XI from their 5-0 first-leg thrashing of Flora. This means that Mark Zabukovnik and Tamar Svetlin will return to operate in the engine room.
As a result, Romanian enforcer Marco Dulca and Mario Kvesic are likely to drop out of the side, despite their impressive performances in the 2-1 victory during Celje’s most recent Champions League clash.
Veteran goalkeeper Matjaz Rozman, who is approaching his 38th birthday, remains the undisputed first-choice for Celje and will start on Wednesday night.
Slovan Bratislava
Having clinched the Slovakian top division title for the past six seasons, Slovan Bratislava are well-acquainted with competing in European club football. However, they have yet to advance past all the qualification rounds to reach the group stage of the Champions League.
The Sky Blues began their European journey in mid-July with a first-round qualifier against Struga. They secured a 4-2 win in the first leg and a 2-1 victory in the second leg, progressing 6-3 on aggregate to advance to the second round of the preliminary stages.
Vladimir Weiss, who will celebrate his 60th birthday in September, is leading Slovan Bratislava in their quest for continental success. Since taking charge in May 2021, the former Georgia boss has overseen 96 victories in 161 matches.
Juraj Kucka, now 37, has returned to his homeland after varied stints in the Czech Republic, Italy, and England with clubs like AC Milan and Watford. The midfielder made a significant impact by scoring a brace in the first leg against Struga on July 10.
Unlike their opponents on Wednesday, Slovan Bratislava have not yet started their 2024-25 league campaign. However, they carry positive momentum from last season’s away form, having lost only three of their 16 league matches on the road.
Team News
Although conceding three goals over two games against Struga was not welcomed, Slovan Bratislava should stick with a centre-back trio of Kevin Wimmer, Guram Kashia and Kenan Bajric.
The Sky Blues will look to cause their hosts problems on the flanks, with Matus Vojtko and Cesar Blackman tasked with providing plenty of width as wing-backs.
Conclusion
Full of confidence following their smashing of Flora in the previous round, Celje may yet leave the competition at this stage, but they should be able to win the first leg at home.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: 888sport
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