UEFA Champions League Play-offs
Slovan Bratislava 1 - 1 FT Celje
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
83
Al-Wasl FC
vs
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:00 UTC
⚡ Form
31
⚖️ Balance
82
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
66
Early AFC Champions League Elite test.
Futmetrix Verdict
45
Atalanta
vs
Venezia
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:30 UTC
⚡ Form
51
⚖️ Balance
60
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
64
Desperate Venezia seek lifeline against Atalanta.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
15' R. Cerepkai (C. Martinez)
M. Avdyli (M. Kvesic) 41'
45' K. Bajric
HT
↓ M. Ivansek ↑B. Verbic 57'
↓ A. Kucys ↑A. Kotnik 58'
M. Avdyli 59'
62' ↓ R. Cerepkai ↑A. Yirajang
70' ↓ A. Mustafic ↑D. Matsuoka
70' ↓ S. Camara ↑M. Kianga
↓ P. Daniel ↑I. Calusic 78'
↓ P. Sirvys ↑A. Dionkou 78'
83' C. Blackman
84' ↓ T. Barseghyan ↑A. Sporar
84' ↓ C. Martinez ↑R. Ibrahim
M. Zabukovnik 86'
↓ M. Kvesic ↑Y. Dukuly 87'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Slovan Bratislava
Goalkeepers
Dominik Takáč 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
César Blackman 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
Kenan Bajrič 
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
74
Passes
6
Duels
Svetozar Marković
MAGNET
74
Activity
74
Activity
64
Passes
10
Duels
Sandro Cruz
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Cristian Jesús Martínez 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
Peter Pokorný
MAGNET
57
Activity
57
Activity
49
Passes
8
Duels
Alen Mustafic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
Tigran Barseghyan 
ARCHITECT
7
Key Passes
7
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Roman Čerepkai 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.2
Rating
Suleiman Camara 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Aleksandar Popovic 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matúš Macík
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Samuel Kozlovsky
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kevin Wimmer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alasana Yirajang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daiki Matsuoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tag Eldin Ibrahim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Artur Gajdoš
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alexej Maros
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Danylo Ignatenko
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Manasse Kianga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andraž Šporar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Celje
Goalkeepers
Žan-Luk Leban
MAGNET
42
Activity
42
Activity
40
Passes
2
Duels
Defenders
Pijus Sirvys
LATE SHIFT
12
Late Mins
12
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
78
Entry
Darko Hrka
MAGNET
78
Activity
78
Activity
75
Passes
3
Duels
Artemijus Tutyškinas
MAGNET
77
Activity
77
Activity
73
Passes
4
Duels
Milot Avdyli 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Midfielders
Papa Mustapha Daniel
MAGNET
55
Activity
55
Activity
49
Passes
6
Duels
Mark Zabukovnik
MAGNET
60
Activity
60
Activity
55
Passes
5
Duels
Matic Ivanšek
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Svit Sešlar
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Mario Kvesic 
SWEEPER
2
Cleanups
2
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Forwards
Armandas Kucys
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Luka Kolar
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ziga Frelih
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Damjan Vuklisevic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alpha Diounkou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ivan Ćalušić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leonardo Koutris
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Benjamin Verbic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
38
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrej Kotnik
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
37
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Veton Tusha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yaya Dukuly
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Rudi Pozeg Vancas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matej Poplatnik
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/19/2026 | Slovan Bratislava | 1 - 1 | Celje | UEFA Champions League | Tehelne Pole Stadion |
| 07/30/2024 | Slovan Bratislava | 5 - 0 | Celje | UEFA Champions League | Štadión Tehelné pole |
| 07/24/2024 | Celje | 1 - 1 | Slovan Bratislava | UEFA Champions League | Stadion Z'dežele |
08/19/2026
07/30/2024
07/24/2024
Slovan Bratislava Win
Celje Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Slovan Bratislava
Celje
Slovan Bratislava
Celje
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Tehelne Pole Stalemate Leaves Champions League Dream Hanging in the Balance
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. This tense playoff first leg delivered early fireworks before settling into a gritty deadlock, leaving everything to play for in the return fixture.
The Early Fire
The Stakes were palpable at Tehelne Pole Stadion as both sides chased a golden ticket to the Champions League proper. Slovan Bratislava wanted to stamp their authority on home turf, and they found their breakthrough in just the 15th minute. Cristian Martínez carved through the midfield lines, slipping a perfect pass to R. Cerepkai. The forward made no mistake, setting a blistering early tempo and giving the hosts the exact start they craved. For a moment, it looked like a long night awaited the visitors.
The Pivotal Leveller
But the away side refused to crumble under the pressure. Celje weathered the storm and slowly began to dictate the rhythm, ultimately edging possession with 51% of the ball. Their patience paid off in the 41st minute. M. Kvesic spotted a gap and fed M. Avdyli, who slotted home a crucial equaliser just before the break. The Balance of the tie shifted back to neutral, sucking the oxygen out of the home crowd and completely changing the complexion of the halftime team talks.
A Chess Match Finale
The second half transformed into a tactical grind. The hosts racked up a barrage of 13 total shots, yet only managed to put two on target. Tigran Barseghyan was the undeniable spark for the home side, pulling strings with a staggering seven key passes, but the final clinical touch remained elusive. With nothing separating them at the final whistle, this 1-1 draw tees up a massive winner-takes-all scenario. All eyes now turn to Slovenia for the decisive second leg on August 26.
Key Questions
Who scored in the Slovan Bratislava vs Celje match?
R. Cerepkai opened the scoring for Slovan Bratislava, while M. Avdyli netted the equaliser for Celje.
When is the second leg of this Champions League playoff?
The return leg between Celje and Slovan Bratislava is scheduled for August 26 in Slovenia.
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.
The Gateway to Europe's Elite
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 39/100. Our verdict: a pragmatic first-leg encounter awaits where minimizing mistakes will take precedence over pure entertainment.
The Setup
The UEFA Champions League league stage is agonizingly close. Slovan Bratislava welcome Celje on August 19, 2026, knowing a solid home performance is absolutely essential before heading away for the decisive second leg on August 26. The Stakes could not be higher—survival means advancing to the lucrative main competition. Despite a modest Stars appeal that might keep neutrals away, both sides bring a robust Form rating into the tie, combining for an impressive 3.5 goals per game in recent outings. Yet, early-season nerves and the weight of the occasion could stifle that attacking flow.
Key Battle
With no marquee names stealing the continental spotlight, this clash comes down to structural discipline and taking half-chances. Slovan Bratislava will rely heavily on the offensive thrust of D. Strelec and the midfield control of N. Marcelli to dismantle Celje's defensive block. Meanwhile, home goalkeeper D. Takáč is tasked with shutting down an away unit that has been quietly effective on the break. The competitive Balance leans toward the hosts dictating possession while the visitors play to keep the deficit manageable.
Our Prediction
The home side holds the upper hand on paper. We expect Slovan Bratislava to secure a narrow, hard-fought victory. Celje will likely adopt a conservative approach, aiming to keep the tie well and truly alive for their home leg. Expect a tight one-goal margin that leaves everything to play for next week.