Celje and Slovan Bratislava meet in this play-off clash with the tie finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Both sides are showing significant rotation, with seven regular starters missing from each lineup, which introduces a layer of unpredictability and could blunt…
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Sign inCelje welcome Slovan Bratislava for the return leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off on Tuesday 26 August 2026, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 following last week’s stalemate in the Slovak capital. The aggregate winner will secure a coveted group-stage place, while the loser drops into the Europa League group phase.
Bratislava’s Tehelné pole hosted a tight 1-1 draw in the opener, where Tigran Barseghyan earned the Sofascore man-of-the-match award with an 8.2 rating. With the away-goals rule no longer in force, any victory for either side in the second leg sends them through. A repeat of last week’s scoreline would force extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout.
Celje head into the fixture with a fully fit squad. The Slovenian side reported no injury concerns before the first leg and are expected to field an unchanged lineup after no fresh problems emerged from domestic action.
Slovan Bratislava, managed by 2009 Champions League winner Yaya Touré, welcome back midfielder Papa Daniel from suspension. However, forward Andraž Šporar remains sidelined through injury. Mykola Kukharevych and Rahim Ibrahim are set to return to the starting XI, joining the influential Barseghyan in attack. Goalkeeper Dominik Takáč and centre-back Kenan Bajrič are likely to anchor the side once again.
Touré’s men have won six of their last seven competitive matches, including emphatic domestic victories over Ruzomberok (5-0), Podbrezova (3-0), and a double-header against Mjällby (2-0 and 2-1). In Champions League qualifying they remain unbeaten after four games, scoring seven goals and conceding only two. That defensive solidity, combined with rapid transitions through Barseghyan and Kukharevych, makes them a dangerous opponent even away from home.
Celje’s recent European away form is less convincing. Although they beat Ararat-Armenia 2-0 at home and Nafta 3-1 on the road domestically, they lost 2-1 in Armenia and drew 1-1 at Maribor. The Slovene champions have struggled to replicate their domestic ruthlessness on foreign soil in UEFA competition.
Barseghyan’s ability to operate from the left and drift infield makes him Slovan’s primary creative threat. He scored the final goal in Slovan’s 5-0 demolition of Celje during the 2024-25 qualifying rounds and earned an 8.2 rating in the first leg after unsettling the Celje backline throughout. With Celje’s defence likely to be marshalled by their experienced centre-backs, denying the Armenian space in the final third will be essential if the hosts are to keep a clean sheet and progress.
Victory over two legs books a place in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League group stage, guaranteeing at least eight matches against the continent’s elite and a significant financial windfall. The loser parachutes into the Europa League group phase, ensuring European football continues into the autumn but without the prestige—and revenue—of the Champions League. With the tie balanced at 1-1, every tackle, set-piece and counter-attack carries enormous weight in Celje’s bid to reach the groups for the first time.
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