Match Information
Match Overview
Celje host Egnatia Rrogozhinë in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round tie, with the first leg having ended 3-3 on July 22 in Albania. That result means both sides arrive with confidence going forward but questions defensively, and the return leg is finely poised given the shared six goals in the opening meeting.
With the aggregate score level at 3-3, this second leg carries significant weight for both clubs. Neither side managed to establish control in the first encounter, trading goals in a match that suggests attacking quality on both sides but also defensive vulnerabilities that could resurface. Celje will have the benefit of playing the second leg on home soil, which may offer a psychological edge, though the tie remains entirely open. Egnatia Rrogozhinë showed in their prior qualifying round, a 6-1 win over Petrocub followed by a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, that they are capable of both emphatic attacking displays and more cautious away performances, giving them a template for navigating knockout football in Europe.
Recent form adds further context. Celje's results in the lead-up to this tie have been defined by draws, including a 2-2 result against Mura in the 1. SNL on July 17 and a string of drawn friendlies, suggesting a team still searching for consistency and defensive solidity. Egnatia Rrogozhinë, by contrast, have won three of their last five matches, including a 2-0 Superliga win over Dinamo Tirana on May 31 and the aforementioned 6-1 friendly-adjacent qualifying win, pointing to stronger attacking momentum heading into this leg.
No injury concerns have been reported for either squad, meaning both managers, Vitor Campelos for Celje and Nevil Dede for Egnatia Rrogozhinë, should have full squads to select from. With the tie delicately balanced and both sides having shown attacking intent, this second leg promises to be a compelling conclusion to the qualifying round tie.
Predicted Lineups
Celje
Žan-Luk Leban; Alpha Diounkou, Damjan Vuklišević, Leonardo Koutris, Nemanja Vukasović; Darko Hrka, Yaya Dukuly, Papa Daniel, Mario Kvesić, Milot Avdyli; Armandas Kučys
Egnatia Rrogozhinë
Mario Dajsinani; Eljon Sota, Eneo Bitri, Arbenit Xhemajli, Guillem Jaime; Karim Loukili, Altin Kryeziu, Fernando Medeiros, Andrey Yago, Alessandro Albanese; Soumaila Bakayoko
Team Form Analysis
Celje
Celje Form Analysis
Celje's recent results have been defined by draws rather than decisive outcomes, with four of their last five matches ending level, including the 3-3 result against Egnatia Rrogozhinë on July 22 and a 2-2 draw with Mura in the 1. SNL on July 17. Their one win in this stretch came in a high-scoring 4-3 friendly victory over MTK Budapest on July 8, showing the squad is capable of scoring freely, having netted in every one of their last five matches. However, the frequency of draws, including 1-1 results against Istra 1961 and Cukaricki, points to defensive issues that have prevented Celje from converting good attacking form into consistent victories. The quality of opposition has varied from domestic league and friendly fixtures to a European qualifier, giving a reasonably rounded picture of the squad's current level. Going into this second leg, Celje will need to tighten up defensively if they are to make the most of home advantage and their evident attacking capability.
Egnatia Rrogozhinë
Egnatia Rrogozhinë Form Analysis
Egnatia Rrogozhinë head into this second leg on the back of a stronger run of results, having won three and drawn two of their last five matches without defeat. Their attacking output has been particularly notable, highlighted by the 6-1 victory over Petrocub on July 15 in the previous qualifying round and a 3-3 draw against Celje in the first leg on July 22. A 3-1 away win over FC Botosani on June 27 and a 2-0 Superliga win over Dinamo Tirana on May 31 further underline a team scoring consistently across different competitions. Defensively, the picture is more mixed, having conceded three goals against Celje and one against Petrocub, though they kept a clean sheet against Dinamo Tirana. The blend of domestic league form, friendly fixtures, and European qualifying results shows a squad that has both scored freely and shown moments of defensive solidity, giving them a solid platform heading into this decisive leg.
Head-to-Head
Celje
Egnatia Rrogozhinë
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-22 | Egnatia Rrogozhinë | 3 - 3 | Celje |
Memorable Matches
The most recent and most relevant meeting between these two clubs came on July 22, 2026, when Egnatia Rrogozhinë and Celje played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round tie. The six-goal encounter saw both sides trade blows throughout, setting up a finely balanced second leg with the aggregate score level. Beyond this fixture, there is no further recorded head-to-head history between the two clubs, making this European qualifying tie the defining chapter of their young rivalry so far.
Venue Factor
With the venue for this second leg unconfirmed, the broader context remains centered on Celje's home advantage in the tie. Having played the first leg away in Albania, where they secured a 3-3 draw, Celje will look to use home comforts to their benefit in this decisive second leg. Egnatia Rrogozhinë, for their part, have already shown they can perform away from home, having drawn 1-1 at Petrocub during their previous qualifying round tie on July 8. European qualifying matches often carry heightened atmosphere, and with the aggregate score tied, the crowd's
