UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
Ararat-Armenia 2 - 1 FT Celje
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
S. Seslar 22'
38' A. Serobyan
42' Tulipa
HT
↓ V. Tusha ↑Y. Dukuly 46'
M. Kvesic 58'
59' ↓ M. Carlier ↑A. Tera
59' ↓ A. Serobyan ↑Franca Carlos
↓ A. Kucys ↑R. Pozeg 64'
↓ S. Seslar ↑A. Kotnik 64'
70' Franca Carlos (E. Grigoryan)
83' ↓ Z. Banjaqui ↑M. Ayvazyan
90' ↓ Sandro Lima ↑P. Ayongo
90' ↓ H. Oliveira ↑A. Ndour
P. Daniel 90'+5
↓ P. Daniel ↑M. Poplatnik 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Ararat-Armenia
Goalkeepers
João Bravim
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Junior Julio
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Wilson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alexandros Malis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Edgar Grigoryan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Hugo Oliveira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Karen Muradyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Maxence Carlier
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Artur Serobyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Zidane Banjaqui
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Sandro Lima
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Arman Nersesyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Pereira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luís Felipe
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Carlos França
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alwyn Tera
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Michel Ayvazyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Zhirayr Shaghoyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Juan Balanta
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bernardo Dias
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Paul Ayongo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alioune Ndour
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arayik Eloyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Celje
Goalkeepers
Žan-Luk Leban
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Pijus Širvys
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Artemijus Tutyškinas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Darko Hrka
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Veton Tusha
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Papa Daniel
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mark Zabukovnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mario Kvesić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Svit Sešlar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Milot Avdyli
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Armandas Kučys
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Žiga Frelih
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luka Kolar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ivan Ćalušić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Damjan Vuklišević
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alpha Diounkou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Leonardo Koutris
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Yaya Dukuly
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Rudi Požeg Vancaš
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matic Ivanšek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Benjamin Verbič
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andrej Kotnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matej Poplatnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/24/2020 | Ararat-Armenia | 1 - 0 (AET) | Celje | UEFA Europa League | Yerevan Football Academy |
09/24/2020
Ararat-Armenia Win
Celje Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Clinical Comeback Keeps Champions League Dream Alive
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 58/100. Ararat-Armenia's ruthless efficiency punished a dominant Celje side, proving that possession means nothing without a killer instinct in European qualifiers.
The Early Storm
The third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League always delivers high tension, and this clash at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium was no exception. Celje stepped onto the pitch with clear intentions, immediately dictating the tempo. The visitors dominated possession, holding 62% of the ball during the contest and making the hosts chase shadows in the early phases. That early Intensity paid off for the Slovenian side when they earned a crucial penalty just 22 minutes into the tie. S. Seslar stepped up to the spot and converted with composure, silencing the home crowd and giving his team a deserved lead. At that moment, it looked like a long evening awaited the Armenian hosts, who were struggling to string passes together against a well-drilled opponent.
The Quick Response
Football at this level is entirely about taking your chances when the Balance of power shifts. Despite seeing very little of the ball, Ararat-Armenia refused to fold under the mounting pressure. They absorbed the attacks, leaned on their goalkeeper who made four essential saves throughout the match, and waited for the perfect counter-punch. The turning point arrived in the 38th minute. Breaking forward with sudden precision, A. Serobyan found a pocket of space and buried a brilliant equalizer. That strike completely altered the psychological landscape of the match just before halftime. The visitors had registered numerous attempts, but this equalizer proved that the hosts only needed a fraction of those opportunities to inflict serious damage on the grandest European stage.
A Lesson in Ruthlessness
The second half transformed into a tense chess match, with the Stakes astronomical for both clubs seeking a path to the main competition. While Celje continued to pepper the final third—ultimately launching 13 shots with five on target—the home side displayed ultimate pragmatism. In the 70th minute, that pragmatism delivered the ultimate reward. E. Grigoryan carved open the defense with a decisive ball, allowing Franca Carlos to fire home the winner. The statistical reality of this match is staggering: Ararat-Armenia managed exactly two shots on target in 90 minutes, and they scored both. It was a masterclass in knockout football survival. They weathered a storm of 24 combined shots in this fixture, overturned a deficit, and secured a massive advantage heading into the next chapter of this European tie.
Key Questions
How did Ararat-Armenia complete the comeback from behind?
Despite conceding an early penalty to S. Seslar, goals from A. Serobyan and Franca Carlos turned it around, maximizing their limited chances perfectly.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
European Dreams Hang by a Thread
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 56/100. This qualifying tie lacks widespread global appeal, but presents a monumental hurdle for two clubs desperate for continental progression.
The Setup
On August 04, 2026, the Ararat-Armenia faithful will pack the Football Academy Stadium hoping to witness a vital first-leg advantage against Celje. With modest Stars on display, this tie is significantly less about individual brilliance and far more about rigid tactical discipline. The Stakes surrounding this fixture are entirely focused on surviving this grueling qualifying hurdle to inch closer to the lucrative Champions League stage. A lack of elite Form from either side heading into the clash suggests a deeply cautious approach from both managers, while the overall Balance indicates extremely fine margins between the two squads. One single error could define their entire continental campaign.
Key Battle
With no standout global superstars taking the pitch to steal the headlines, the critical clash will be waged relentlessly in the center of the park. The home midfield's ability to dictate tempo and thread passes through tight spaces must overcome a highly resilient away back line. The visitors will likely sit deep, looking to absorb sustained pressure and spring forward on swift counter-attacks.
Our Prediction
We expect a remarkably cagey affair where the inherent fear of losing outright outweighs the desire to dominate proceedings. Celje might edge the underlying possession statistics, but a gritty 1-1 draw seems the most logical conclusion. This conservative script leaves absolutely everything to play for in the decisive return leg.