UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
Celje 2 - 0 FT Ararat-Armenia
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Celje
Goalkeepers
Žan-Luk Leban
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Pijus Širvys
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Artemijus Tutyškinas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Leonardo Koutris
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Darko Hrka
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mario Kvesić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mark Zabukovnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Svit Sešlar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matic Ivanšek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Milot Avdyli
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Armandas Kučys
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Luka Kolar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Žiga Frelih
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Damjan Vuklišević
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alpha Diounkou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ivan Ćalušić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Benjamin Verbič
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Veton Tusha
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Yaya Dukuly
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Rudi Požeg Vancaš
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andrej Kotnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Matej Poplatnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
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
Alwyn Tera
👻 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
Luís Felipe
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Pereira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Michel Ayvazyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Zhirayr Shaghoyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Juan Balanta
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Carlos França
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bernardo Dias
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Maxence Carlier
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arayik Eloyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alioune Ndour
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Paul Ayongo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/04/2026 | Ararat-Armenia | 2 - 1 | Celje | UEFA Champions League | Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium |
| 09/24/2020 | Ararat-Armenia | 1 - 0 (AET) | Celje | UEFA Europa League | Yerevan Football Academy |
08/04/2026
09/24/2020
Celje Win
Ararat-Armenia Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Late Celje Blitz Breaks Ararat-Armenia Resistance
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 30/100. This grinding Champions League qualifier punished viewers with endless stoppages before a late double-blow finally decided the tie.
The Tactical Trenches
The opening exchanges at Arena Z’dezele resembled a wrestling match rather than a football contest. With both sides acutely aware of the massive Stakes involved in this crucial qualifying round, neither was willing to concede an inch of territory. The ball spent long periods bogged down in midfield, as Celje and Ararat-Armenia shared possession entirely equally. A barrage of early fouls disrupted any hope of a flowing rhythm, reflecting a ferocious Intensity that yielded far more bruises than scoring opportunities. The visitors parked themselves deep, challenging the hosts to find a way through their rigid defensive structure. Despite the home crowd urging their team forward, the initial phase concluded as a cagey, suffocating stalemate that left attackers entirely starved of space.
Set-Piece Stalemate
As the match wore on, the pitch transformed into a relentless set-piece battleground. An incredible accumulation of corners—totaling 21 across the evening—defined this grueling middle period. Celje relentlessly pumped deliveries into the penalty area, yet they continually met a wall of steadfast resistance from the visitors. The Balance of power remained stubbornly deadlocked, with heavy tackles flying and yellow cards accumulating on both sides of the ledger. Frustration began to creep into the stands at Arena Z’dezele, as the Slovenian hosts registered multiple shots on target without finding a genuine breakthrough. The heavy fouls and physical attrition threatened to drag this contest into a completely forgettable goalless draw, highlighting the sheer difficulty of breaking down a team fighting for their European lives.
The Late Breakthrough
Just as the travelling supporters began dreaming of a hard-fought clean sheet, the dam spectacularly burst. In the 83rd minute, the relentless pressure finally paid dividends when Y. Dukuly latched onto a precise delivery from M. Avdyli to smash the deadlock, unleashing absolute pandemonium inside the stadium. Before the visitors could even process the heartbreak, Celje struck again. Barely two minutes later, B. Verbic found the back of the net, delivering a fatal knockout punch that instantly erased 80 minutes of mounting anxiety. This frantic climax entirely shifted the narrative from a dour war of attrition to a memorable European triumph. The late surge keeps the home side's continental dreams alive while sending their exhausted opponents crashing out after a valiant but ultimately doomed defensive effort.
Key Questions
Who scored the late goals for Celje?
Y. Dukuly and B. Verbic scored quick-fire goals in the 83rd and 85th minutes to secure the victory for their team.
Why was there so much set-piece pressure?
The match was highly physical, resulting in a staggering 21 combined corners as both teams constantly disrupted open play with fouls.
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.
Continental Dreams on a Knife Edge
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 47/100. With a Champions League playoff spot on the line, this grueling qualifier lacks marquee names but guarantees a tense tactical standoff.
The Setup
On August 11, 2026, Celje host Ararat-Armenia in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. For both sides, this tie represents a golden ticket to the final hurdle before the lucrative league stage. While a very low Stars rating indicates an absence of household names, the high stakes of knockout football ensure plenty of drama. Our reading of their Form suggests both sides are still finding their match rhythm in these early stages of the season. However, an off-the-charts Balance rating points to an evenly matched contest where a single misstep could define the entire tie.
Key Battle
Without standout individual superstars, this fixture will be decided by collective discipline. The home side's midfield engine room must find a way to dismantle a resolute away defensive block. Ararat-Armenia will likely sit deep, absorb the early pressure, and look to spring rapid counter-attacks. Celje's ability to remain patient in possession while guarding against quick transitions will dictate the flow of the match.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, low-scoring affair where neither team wants to commit too many bodies forward. Ararat-Armenia hold a slight edge in our expected outcome, but the margins are razor-thin. We foresee a gritty 1-0 away victory, though a scoreless draw is entirely plausible if the midfields cancel each other out.