0 – 4
“Barnabás Varga opens the scoring with a perfectly placed header from Razvan Marin's corner kick delivery”
Pivotal“Aboubakary Koïta pounces on the rebound after Varga's shot is saved, doubling AEK's advantage”
Pivotal“Mijat Gacinovic unleashes a stunning right-footed strike into the top left corner to effectively kill the tie”
Pivotal“Harold Moukoudi completes the demolition, scoring from close range after Marin's free-kick hits the crossbar”
Celje
AEK Athens
Outstanding performance
AEK Athens•MidfielderAEK Athens delivered a masterful first-leg performance in Slovenia, dismantling Celje 4-0 to take commanding control of this Europa Conference League tie. The Greek side's clinical efficiency was evident from Barnabás Varga's early header off a corner kick, setting the tone for a dominant display. Varga was instrumental throughout, nearly scoring again before Aboubakary Koïta capitalized on the rebound to double the lead. Mijat Gacinovic's spectacular strike from the right side of the box and Harold Moukoudi's close-range finish after hitting the crossbar completed the rout. For Celje, this represents a mountain to climb in the second leg, with their defense unable to cope with AEK's varied attacking threats.
How entertaining was this match?
Substitution for AEK Athens: Dimitris Kaloskamis comes on to take the place of Barnabás Varga.
Substitution for Celje: Ivica Vidovic comes on to take the place of Svit Seslar.
Armandas Kucys from Celje commits a foul.
Filipe Relvas of AEK Athens earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Roberto Pereyra from AEK Athens is awarded a free kick on the right flank.
Zan Karnicnik from Celje commits a foul.
Milot Avdyli from Celje is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
Stavros Pilios from AEK Athens commits a foul.
David CastroYellow CardDavid Castro from Celje receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Zine from AEK Athens earns a free kick in their own half of the field.
David Castro from Celje commits a foul.
Juanjo Nieto from Celje earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Dereck Kutesa from AEK Athens commits a foul.
Substitution for AEK Athens: Petros Mantalos comes on to take the place of Mijat Gacinovic.
Substitution for AEK Athens: Zine comes on to take the place of Luka Jovic.
Shot on goal denied. Dereck Kutesa from AEK Athens takes a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, but Zan-Luk Leban of Celje makes a save right in the middle of the goal.
Luka Jovic from AEK Athens earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
David Castro from Celje commits a foul.
Luka Jovic of AEK Athens earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Lukasz Bejger from Celje commits a foul.
Substitution for Celje: Andrej Kotnik comes on to take the place of Mario Kvesic.
Substitution for AEK Athens: Roberto Pereyra comes on to take the place of Orbelín Pineda.
Substitution for AEK Athens: Dereck Kutesa comes on to take the place of Aboubakary Koïta.
Missed opportunity! Zan Karnicnik from Celje took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went over the bar and to the left. He was assisted by David Castro.
Lukasz Bejger from Celje has been awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens commits a foul.
Stavros Pilios from AEK Athens earns a free kick on the left flank.
Milot Avdyli from Celje commits a foul.
Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens commits a foul.
David Castro from Celje is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Missed opportunity! Mijat Gacinovic of AEK Athens took a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it sailed over the bar. He was set up by Aboubakary Koïta after a quick counterattack.
Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens commits a foul.
David Castro from Celje is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Substitution for Celje: Milot Avdyli comes on to take the place of Rudi Pozeg Vancas.
Aboubakary KoitaYellow CardAboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Juanjo Nieto from Celje is awarded a free kick on the right side of the field.
Aboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens commits a foul.
Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens commits a foul.
David Castro from Celje earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Corner awarded to Celje after Lazaros Rota allowed the ball to go out of play.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after a defensive play by Papa Daniel.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after a deflection off Papa Daniel.
Corner awarded to AEK Athens after Lukasz Bejger allowed the ball to go out.
A shot attempt was thwarted. Luka Jovic from AEK Athens tried a left-footed strike from the middle of the penalty area, but it was blocked. The assist came from Barnabás Varga.
assist: Răzvan Marin
Goal! Celje 0, AEK Athens 4. Harold Moukoudi scores for AEK Athens with a right-footed shot from just a few yards out, finding the center of the net after a set piece play.
Razvan Marin from AEK Athens strikes the crossbar with a right-footed attempt from outside the penalty area following a direct free kick.
Luka Jovic of AEK Athens earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Juanjo Nieto from Celje committed a foul.
Orbelín Pineda of AEK Athens is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Orbelín Pineda from AEK Athens is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Substitution for Celje: Papa Daniel comes on to take the place of Svit Seslar.
Substitution for Celje: David Castro comes on to take the place of Artemijus Tutyskinas.
The second half is underway with the scoreline reading Celje 0, AEK Athens 3.
The first half concludes with the scoreline reading Celje 0, AEK Athens 3.
A shot on goal has been thwarted. Luka Jovic of AEK Athens fired a left-footed attempt from the middle of the box, but Zan-Luk Leban from Celje made a save right in the center of the net, with the assist coming from Aboubakary Koïta.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minute of stoppage time.
Orbelín PinedaYellow CardOrbelín Pineda from AEK Athens receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Mario Kvesic from Celje earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Mario Kvesic from Celje is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Orbelín Pineda from AEK Athens is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Svit Seslar from Celje commits a foul.
Corner kick awarded to Celje after Filipe Relvas allowed the ball to go out.
Lazaros Rota from AEK Athens commits a foul.
Rudi Pozeg Vancas from Celje earns a free kick on the left side of the field.
Missed opportunity! Stavros Pilios from AEK Athens took a left-footed shot from a challenging position on the left side, but it goes just wide of the top left corner.
A shot attempt is stopped. Luka Jovic from AEK Athens tries a left-footed strike from the middle of the penalty area, but it gets blocked. The assist came from Razvan Marin.
Goal! Celje 0, AEK Athens 3. Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens scores with a powerful right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, sending the ball into the top left corner of the net.
The attempt is thwarted. Svit Seslar from Celje takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Corner kick awarded to Celje after Mijat Gacinovic allowed the ball to go out.
A shot attempt was thwarted. Juanjo Nieto from Celje fired a right-footed strike from outside the penalty area, but it was blocked. Darko Hrka provided the assist.
assist: Luka Jović
Goal! Celje 0, AEK Athens 2. Aboubakary Koïta scores for AEK Athens with a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, placing the ball into the bottom right corner. The assist comes from Luka Jovic.
assist: Luka Jović
A shot on goal has been denied. Barnabás Varga from AEK Athens took a right-footed attempt from the middle of the box, but Zan-Luk Leban from Celje made a crucial save right in the center of the goal. The effort was set up by Lazaros Rota.
Darko HrkaYellow CardDarko Hrka from Celje receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Darko Hrka from Celje commits a foul.
Corner kick awarded to Celje, following a foul by Orbelín Pineda.
Corner kick awarded to Celje after Razvan Marin allowed the ball to go out.
Juanjo Nieto from Celje has been awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Aboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens commits a foul.
Missed opportunity. Armandas Kucys from Celje took a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.
Mario Kvesic from Celje earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Barnabás Varga of AEK Athens commits a foul.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after a defensive play by Zan-Luk Leban.
Darko Hrka from Celje commits a foul.
Aboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Corner kick awarded to Celje after Stavros Pilios allowed the ball to go out.
The shot was blocked. Razvan Marin from AEK Athens took a right-footed attempt from outside the penalty area, but Zan-Luk Leban from Celje made a save in the top left corner, with assistance from Aboubakary Koïta.
The shot is deflected. Orbelín Pineda from AEK Athens takes a right-footed attempt from outside the penalty area, but it's blocked.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after a deflection off Darko Hrka.
A shot is deflected. Luka Jovic of AEK Athens tries a right-footed effort from the middle of the penalty area, but it's blocked. He received assistance from Aboubakary Koïta.
A shot on goal has been stopped. Aboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens took a right-footed strike from the left side of the penalty area, but Zan-Luk Leban from Celje made a great save, diving to the bottom left corner. The attempt was set up by Orbelín Pineda.
Attempt denied. Svit Seslar from Celje takes a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Corner awarded to Celje after Orbelín Pineda allowed the ball to go out.
Barnabás Varga of AEK Athens strikes the right post with a right-footed attempt from the right side of the penalty area, following a through ball assist from Luka Jovic.
Missed opportunity! Mijat Gacinovic from AEK Athens took a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it went just wide to the left. He was assisted by Barnabás Varga.
Corner kick awarded to Celje after Stavros Pilios allowed the ball to go out.
Missed opportunity! Svit Seslar from Celje took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area but couldn't find the target.
The pause has ended. They’re set to resume play.
The game has been temporarily halted due to an injury to Armandas Kucys from Celje.
assist: Răzvan Marin
Goal! Celje 0, AEK Athens 1. Barnabás Varga scores for AEK Athens with a header from the middle of the penalty area, directing it into the bottom right corner. The assist comes from Razvan Marin, who delivered a cross after a corner kick.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after Lukasz Bejger allowed the ball to go out of play.
Corner kick awarded to AEK Athens after Lukasz Bejger allowed the ball to go out.
Juanjo Nieto commits a foul for Celje.
Aboubakary Koïta from AEK Athens earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
The opening half is underway...
The starting teams have been revealed, and the players are currently going through their warm-up routines.
NK Celje welcomes AEK Athens to Slovenia for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League Round of 16 tie. With AEK sitting 3rd in the group standings and Celje holding a 1-0 historical edge, this knockout clash promises European drama at Arena Z'dežele.
