Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia: Champions League Qualifying Round Match Report

Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia at Arena Z’dezele gives the Slovenians a strong first-leg platform in the UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, built on late impact from the bench and control of key moments in both boxes. With no league standings context attached to this tie, the significance lies entirely in the continental trajectory: Celje carry a two-goal cushion and a clean sheet into the return leg, while Ararat-Armenia leave with work to do after failing to turn periods of parity into clear chances.

Match Report

The game opened in a tense, stop-start fashion, with Ararat-Armenia’s midfield aggression drawing early punishment. On 19', Ararat-Armenia picked up back-to-back cautions: Alwyn Tera was booked for a foul, and Hugo Oliveira followed moments later with a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, signalling the visitors’ willingness to disrupt Celje’s rhythm.

Celje’s own left side then came under the referee’s eye on 32', when Leonardo Koutris received a yellow card for tripping as Ararat-Armenia tried to break. The first half remained goalless, with neither side able to convert possession into a breakthrough.

Celje’s key tactical shift arrived at the interval. On 46', Benjamin Verbič came on for Koutris (Celje), a proactive attacking substitution that would later reshape the game. Ararat-Armenia responded with their own midfield adjustment on 55', as Benny replaced Tera (Ararat-Armenia) to freshen the central areas.

The card count continued to rise after the hour. On 64', Artemijus Tutyskinas was booked for tripping (Celje), and two minutes later, on 66', Milot Avdyli received a yellow card for holding, underlining Celje’s increasing need to halt transitions as they pushed forward.

On 69', Celje doubled down on attacking changes. Yaya Dukuly replaced Pijus Širvys (Celje), adding directness from wide areas, while Matej Poplatnik came on for Armandas Kučys (Celje) to provide fresh legs up front. Ararat-Armenia countered with a double substitution of their own on 73': Maxence Carlier came on for Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia), and Carlos França entered for Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia), signalling a shift towards more creativity and support around the striker.

Celje’s growing territorial pressure brought further disciplinary issues. On 78', Mark Zabukovnik was shown a yellow card for a foul (Celje) as Ararat-Armenia tried to counter.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 83'. Celje goal — Yaya Dukuly (assisted by Milot Avdyli). A well-timed combination from two substitutes, with Avdyli’s involvement between the lines and Dukuly’s decisive finish, rewarded Celje’s earlier changes and put them 1-0 up.

Ararat-Armenia’s frustration deepened on 84', when Zidane Banjaqui was booked for a foul (Ararat-Armenia) as they chased an immediate response.

Celje then delivered a potentially tie-defining second on 85'. Celje goal — Benjamin Verbič (unassisted). Verbič, introduced at half-time, capitalised with a solo effort, doubling the lead to 2-0 and underlining the impact of Vitor Campelos’ substitutions.

Verbič’s intensity spilled over a minute later. On 86', he received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct (Celje), a minor blemish on an otherwise decisive cameo.

Ararat-Armenia made a final attacking push in the closing stages. On 89', Alioune Ndour replaced Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia), adding fresh pace up front, and on 90', Juan Balanta came on for Karen Muradyan (Ararat-Armenia) to inject energy into midfield. Celje, meanwhile, locked things down defensively in stoppage time: on 90+1', Ivan Čalušić replaced Svit Sešlar (Celje), helping see out the 2-0 advantage.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not listed for either side
• Possession: Celje 50% vs 50% Ararat-Armenia
• Shots on Target: Celje 8 vs 3 Ararat-Armenia
• Goalkeeper Saves: not listed for either side
• Blocked Shots: Celje 7 vs 4 Ararat-Armenia

Despite level possession at 50%-50%, Celje translated their spells on the ball into far more penalty-box threat, registering 8 shots on target to Ararat-Armenia’s 3 and forcing 7 blocked efforts from the visitors’ back line. The shot profile suggests Celje’s 2-0 win was aligned with their territorial and attacking superiority, especially after the hour when the home side’s substitutions tilted the game decisively. Ararat-Armenia, by contrast, managed only three efforts on target despite nine corners, indicating that their set-piece and crossing play lacked final execution and that Celje’s defensive structure coped well with aerial and second-ball situations.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings data provided for either Celje or Ararat-Armenia, the broader seasonal impact can only be read through the lens of this Champions League qualifying tie. Celje’s 2-0 home win gives them a clear advantage heading into the second leg, where even a narrow defeat could still see them progress. For Ararat-Armenia, the task is now to overturn a two-goal deficit without conceding, a scenario that will likely demand a more aggressive attacking setup and greater efficiency in the final third than they showed in Celje.

Lineups & Personnel

Celje Starting XI

• GK: Žan-Luk Leban
• DF: Pijus Širvys, Artemijus Tutyškinas, Leonardo Koutris
• MF: Darko Hrka, Mario Kvesić, Mark Zabukovnik, Svit Sešlar, Matic Ivanšek, Milot Avdyli
• FW: Armandas Kučys

Ararat-Armenia Starting XI

• GK: João Bravim
• DF: Junior Julio, Bruno Wilson, Alexandros Malis, Edgar Grigoryan, Hugo Oliveira
• MF: Karen Muradyan, Alwyn Tera, Artur Serobyan, Zidane Banjaqui
• FW: Sandro Lima

Post-Match Verdict

Celje delivered a controlled and ultimately clinical performance (8 shots on target, 2 goals) built on in-game tactical adjustments. The introduction of Verbič and Dukuly transformed the attacking dynamics, with both substitutes scoring and Avdyli adding an assist from midfield. Defensively, Celje limited Ararat-Armenia to just 3 shots on target despite conceding 9 corners, reflecting a compact shape and effective box defending (7 blocked shots).

Ararat-Armenia’s display was industrious but blunt in the final third (3 shots on target, 0 goals). Early yellow cards for Tera and Oliveira highlighted a reactive approach out of possession, and while later substitutions sought to add creativity and pace, they failed to disrupt Celje’s defensive structure. With the tie now leaning heavily towards Celje, Ararat-Armenia must significantly increase both chance creation and shot quality in the return leg to have any realistic chance of turning this 2-0 deficit around.