Celje vs Ararat-Armenia

NK Celje host Ararat-Armenia on Tuesday 11 August 2026 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie, with a place in the play-off round the prize for the winners. The Slovenian champions are looking to carry a lead into next week's return fixture in Yerevan against an Armenian side appearing at this stage of the competition for the first time in their history.

Team News and Injury Latest

Ararat-Armenia head coach Manuel Tulipa has a fully fit squad to choose from and is expected to name his strongest available side. Joao Bravim is set to continue in goal, shielded by a central-defensive pairing of Bruno Wilson and Junior Bueno. The attacking trio of Artur Serobyan, Sandro Lima and Zhirayr Shaghoyan — all prominent during the earlier qualifying rounds — is likely to lead the visitors' threat going forward.

Celje boss can recall midfielder Papa Daniel, who was rested for the club’s most recent domestic fixture and is expected to step straight back into the starting eleven. Zan-Luk Leban will start in goal behind a back four of Leonardo Koutris, Artemijus Tutyskinias, Darko Hrka and Pijus Sirvys. Mario Kvesic, who has caught the eye in this qualifying campaign with his set-piece delivery and two goals in the previous round, is set to contribute in attack alongside Svit Seslar, with Milot Avdyli providing width from the flank.

As of 3 August, no suspensions or late registration issues had been confirmed for either squad, though both clubs face domestic league matches in the days between the two legs that could influence final selection.

Form Guide: Tight Margins for Both Sides

Ararat-Armenia opened their domestic league season with a 4-3 away victory over Gandzasar — a result that underlined the team's attacking depth while simultaneously raising questions about defensive stability. That pattern has been a feature of their qualifying run so far: they have kept two clean sheets across their earlier Champions League ties but conceded three times in a single league outing.

Celje's recent form in all competitions reads DDWD. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Maribor in their last league match and needed a penalty shootout to advance past KF Egnatia in the previous qualifying round after a wild 3-3 aggregate result. Those tight scorelines show a side that is difficult to beat — Celje have lost only once in that sequence — but one that has also struggled to put ties to bed inside 90 minutes.

Key Battle: Mario Kvesic vs Ararat-Armenia's Central Defence

Sources have highlighted Celje midfielder Mario Kvesic as the individual who has made the strongest impression during this qualifying campaign. His two goals in the away leg against Egnatia in the last round were decisive, but his influence extends beyond the scoresheet. When Ararat-Armenia close down the centre of the pitch, Kvesic's delivery from free kicks and corners becomes Celje's most direct route to a chance. If Bruno Wilson and Junior Bueno can dominate aerially and cut out those crosses early, they will go a long way toward silencing the home crowd and taking a clean sheet back to Armenia.

What Comes Next

The loser of this tie will drop into the UEFA Europa League play-off round, where Finnish champions KuPS lie in wait should they overcome Universitatea Craiova in their own qualifier. For the winner, the Champions League play-off round — and the prospect of the new-look group phase — beckons. The return leg in Yerevan takes place a week later, and both coaches will know that a narrow result here leaves everything to play for.