Celje vs Slovan Bratislava Prediction 26 August 2026
🔊 Celje and Slovan Bratislava meet in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off. The first match in Bratislava ended 1-1, so everything is still to play for. The tie will be decided in Slovenia: the winner advances to the Champions League group stage, while the loser drops into the Europa League.
Head-to-Head
📊 Celje and Slovan have met three times. In the 2024/25 Champions League qualifying, the first leg in Slovenia ended 1-1, before Slovan won convincingly in Bratislava (5-0) to advance.
The first leg of the current tie also finished 1-1. Slovan took the lead on 16 minutes through Roman Čerepkai, but Milot Avdijaj levelled before half-time. Slovan are yet to lose to Celje in any of their head-to-head meetings.
Head-to-head statistics Celje - Slovan Bratislava
Celje Team Overview
The Slovenian champions arrive at this decisive match in decent form. Celje beat Ararat-Armenia (2-0), then defeated Nafta (3-1) in the league, before earning an important draw in Bratislava in the first leg.
Celje were far from passive in that first match. After Roman Čerepkai's goal, the Slovenians equalised before half-time and grew more confident in attack after the break, registering more shots on target. Slovan had 14 shots to Celje's 8, but lost the shots-on-target count 2-4.
Their qualifying campaign is also worth noting. Celje went through against Egnatia on penalties after two draws, then eliminated Ararat-Armenia 3-2 on aggregate. This playoff represents their deepest run in Champions League qualifying - previously, the club had never made it past the second round.
Mario Kvesić remains the key attacking figure for the hosts. The Croatian forward has scored four times in four qualifying matches and added an assist for Avdili in Slovakia.
Match Results: Celje
Slovan Bratislava Team Overview
Slovakia are in excellent form heading into the second leg. After drawing with Celje, they beat Košice 2-1 to maintain a perfect league record: four wins from four. Under Yaya Touré, Slovan are unbeaten - seven wins and two draws across all competitions.
The first leg showed that territorial dominance alone is not enough. Slovan had slightly less possession - 49% against 51% - but outshot Celje 14-8 and won four corners while conceding none. All that pressure, however, did not translate into a win.
Before the play-off round, Slovan eliminated Iberia 1999 from Tbilisi and Swedish side Mjällby. Their domestic form has been equally strong: four wins from four in the league, with a goal difference of 14-1.
Another positive for Touré is the ability to rotate. Against Košice, he again used his squad depth without it costing the team anything. Now Slovan need to carry that consistency into a decisive away match in Celje.
Match Results: Slovan Bratislava
⚽ Goals Prediction
The first leg produced enough chances to suggest a more open game was possible. Celje are now at home with the backing of their own fans - that matters. Both sides have been finding the net regularly: Celje have scored in their last 20 official matches, while Slovan have scored in 12 consecutive away games. It seems likely they will both get on the scoresheet here. The bet is Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.78*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
In the first leg, Slovan had a clear advantage in corners (4-0). The dynamic could shift this time around: Celje are at home and, if the scores are level, will need to push forward more. Both sides are capable of creating pressure down the flanks. Corners look set to be a key feature of the game, so the bet is Total Corners - Over 8.5.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
The first leg produced four bookings, two for each side. The stakes are even higher in the return leg, particularly if it stays level into the second half. Even so, it seems unlikely that four yellows will be repeated, given how carefully both teams tend to play on the ball. Spanish referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández has also shown no more than two yellow cards in 6 of his last 7 Champions League matches. The bet is Total Yellow Cards - Under 3.5.
*Odds are indicative and may vary depending on the bookmaker.
⭐️ Editor's Pick
Celje got exactly the result that keeps them well in contention. They now play at home, and Slovan will have to deal with a hostile crowd. In Bratislava, the Slovaks looked the more convincing side and created more chances, but the gap in quality between the two teams isn't that wide. Celje have already shown they can hit back, and Slovan this season rarely lose and score regularly. We're expecting a more open game than the first leg. The most likely scoreline in normal time is 2-2. Our main prediction is Total Goals - Over 2.
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Betting Tips: Celje - Slovan Bratislava
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