- Celje and Egnatia could not be more evenly matched after a 3-3 draw in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 tie.
- Celje have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last ten matches in all competitions.
- Egnatia have won four, drawn two and lost four of their last ten in all competitions.
Familiar foes re-acquaint in Slovenia
NK Celje welcome KF Egnatia to Stadion Z'dezele in Slovenia for their second leg meeting of this UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 battle, and it's anyone's guess as to how this one is going to go.
The first meeting was a 3-3 thriller and this game has a shootout feel about it, with Celje the 1.4 favourites, Egnatia the 8.25 underdogs and the draw priced at 4.7.
Tactical contrast could lead to goals
Vitor Campelos has Celje set up in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hybrid system, where their best chance of success will be to employ patient build-up, control the midfield and be structured in their pressing when out of possession.
Nevil Dede has Egnatia in a more basic set-up, where a back five or a narrow 3-5-2 structure has their players compact and a low block their default, with fast vertical counter attacks their most potent weapon.
That should be a tasty contrast in styles, with Celje wanting to squeeze and dominate possession and Egnatia looking to nick it and break into the gaps. That's a recipe for a good game and the Both Teams to Score bet looks a good alternative to the match result, at 1.93.
An open game seems likely
Celje are in good form with six wins in ten, but their form in this competition is a little shaky with a 1-2-2 record across their previous five games.
Egnatia are unbeaten in five in this UCL Qualification campaign, having won three and drawn two, so they have momentum.
Mario Kvesic is Celje's spark in the final third, with two goals in one UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 game, while Eneo Bitri has two goals in three games for Egnatia, providing the Albanian side with their cutting edge in transition.
The hosts have won three, drawn one and lost two of their six home games in all competitions, scoring 2.17 per game and conceding 1.17 per game, and that suggests an open match is likely.
Celje may be the right side to edge it, but the odds for them are just too short in this instance, so I'm leaning towards the draw in this one, but it should be another exciting game.
