Champions League
2026-08-19 - Slovan Bratislava vs Celje
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Play Off Round First Leg
Wednesday 19th August 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
Slovan Bratislava
The recent experience has built up in the Champions League thanks to being the dominant team in Slovakia and Slovan Bratislava have won the domestic title for the eighth time in a row. Two years ago the club were able to work the way through to the League Phase of the Champions League, but that was not the case for Slovan Bratislava twelve months ago when they were eventually eliminated in the Conference League Group.
Yaya Toure has taken over as the manager of the club this summer and he will be hoping his personal experiences at the top of the sport can aid the squad in their bid to return to the Champions League Group Stage. He has guided Slovan Bratislava past Iberia 1999 and Mjallby in the last couple of Qualifying Rounds and that has guaranteed the Slovak Champions a spot in the Europa League Group, although they will desire so much more.
Slovan Bratislava are unbeaten in all 7 games played in all competitions this season and they have won 6 of those matches. The side did open the home season with a draw with Iberia 1999, but Slovan Bratislava have responded by winning 3 in a row in front of the home supporters.
Celje
For the third time since the 2020 season, Celje have won the Slovenian Championship and there is a feeling that the club have developed far enough to take their place amongst the elite of European Football. In the last couple of years, Celje have been taking part in the League Phase of the Conference League and they did reach the Last 16 in that competition last season, which will have given everyone the belief as to what can be achieved in the Champions League Qualifiers.
They had to win three Qualifying ties to take the place in the Conference League Group last year having dropped out of the Europa League and Celje got the better of Lugano and Banik Ostrava. This year wins over Egnatia and Ararat-Armenia have taken Celje on the brink of making club history, but it should be noted that half of the last 6 away UEFA matches have ended in defeat.
Celje had begun the season pretty slowly, but they have won 3 in a row in all competitions ahead of the First Leg of this tie and that includes beating Ararat-Armenia 2-0 in the Third Qualifying Round Second Leg to earn a 3-2 win on aggregate. They have won 6 of the last 8 away games in all competitions, while Celje's win over Nafta ended a run of consecutive away games without a victory.
Head to Head
Two years ago, Slovan Bratislava beat Celje in the Second Qualifying Round of the Champions League.
It was the Second Leg at home where the damage was done as Slovan Bratislava ran away with a 5-0 win to earn a 6-1 aggregate win.
Prediction
Neither Slovan Bratislava nor Celje would be expecting to have a deep run in the Champions League, but earning a spot in the League Phase would offer the financial reward that can continue the development of the winning club.
A spot in the Europa League has been guaranteed, but both will want so much more and this could be a more competitive tie than when they met two years ago.
On that occasion, the Slovakian Champions had too much for Celje, but the latter have shown growth in the last two campaigns at the Conference League level.
Away performances have begun to improve, but Celje have still lost half of the last 6 away UEFA ties played and that includes in the Third Qualifying Round at Ararat-Armenia.
Slovan Bratislava have picked up some early momentum under Yaya Toure and they may have enough in the final third to have a lead to protect in Slovenia next week.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Slovan Bratislava 2-0 Celje
