1 – 2
“Andraz Sporar opened the scoring for Slovan Bratislava, converting a move assisted by Kenan Bajric after Celje's Andrej Kotnik had a shot saved in the preceding minute. It gave Slovan the early foothold they needed in a tie balanced on a knife-edge.”
Pivotal“VAR intervened to award Celje a penalty for a foul on Yaya Dukuly, and Svit Seslar stepped up to convert and level the match at 1-1. The equaliser breathed new life into the tie and set up a tense second half.”
Pivotal“With the tie delicately poised in extra time, substitute Nino Marcelli drove forward and found Cristian Martínez, who finished to make it 1-2. The goal, coming after two corners had applied pressure in the 98th and 99th minutes, proved to be the decisive blow as Slovan secured their Champions League passage.”
Pivotal“A heated end to extra time saw a red card shown to Celje's Andrej Kotnik for argument, alongside yellow cards for Benjamin Verbic, Svit Seslar, and Vítor Campelos in a combustible final minute that reflected the frustration of a side eliminated from European competition.”
Celje
Slovan Bratislava
Outstanding performance
Slovan Bratislava•MidfielderSlovan Bratislava advanced 3-2 on aggregate after a hard-fought 2-1 victory in Celje that required extra time to settle. Andraz Sporar gave the Slovakian side an early lead in the 18th minute, converting a well-constructed move finished off by a Kenan Bajric assist, only for Celje to level through a Svit Seslar penalty after VAR intervened to award a spot-kick for a foul on Yaya Dukuly. Despite Celje dominating the statistical picture — 62% possession, 20 shots, and five big chances created — they were profligate in front of goal, missing four of those big chances while Slovan remained compact and dangerous on the counter. When neither side could separate themselves through 90 minutes, it was substitute Nino Marcelli who proved decisive, teeing up Cristian Martínez in the 100th minute to clinch Slovan's passage. The final whistle was marred by a flurry of cards, including a red for Celje's Andrej Kotnik, underlining the tension that had built throughout a fractious, attritional tie.
How entertaining was this match?
Yellow card issued to Svit Seslar.
Kevin Wimmer is substituted for Cesar Blackman.
Benjamin VerbicYellow CardYellow card shown to Benjamin Verbic.
Svit Seslar takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Alexej Maros takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Offside.
Armandas Kucys takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Benjamin Verbic takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Roman Cerepkai takes a shot with his right foot, but it is saved.
Matej Poplatnik replaces Mario Kvesic.
Danylo Ignatenko is on, and Cristian Martínez is off.
Leonardo Koutris comes on for Darko Hrka.
Alexej Maros is on, and Suleiman Camara is off.
Cristian MartínezCristian Martínez scores with a right-footed shot.
Cristian MartínezCristian Martínez takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Nino Marcelli
Goal! Cristian Martínez scores to make it 1-2, assisted by Nino Marcelli.
Nino Marcelli takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Nino Marcelli's left-footed shot is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Nino Marcelli takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Armandas Kucys takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Shot by Kenan Bajric, but it's saved.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Roman Cerepkai's header is saved.
Armandas Kucys takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Artemijus TutyškinasYellow CardYellow card shown to Artemijus Tutyskinas.
On Roman Cerepkai, off Andraz Sporar.
Matic Ivansek is on, and Yaya Dukuly is off.
Armandas Kucys is on, and Andrej Kotnik is off.
Substitution: Richard Diounkou Tecagne comes on for Pijus Sirvys.
Benjamin Verbic is substituted for Papa Daniel.
Nino Marcelli is on, and Tigran Barseghyan is off.
Alen Mustafic replaces Ibrahim Rahim.
Corner awarded.
Darko Hrka takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Darko Hrka's header is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Kenan Bajric's header is saved.
Yaya Dukuly takes a left-footed shot that hits the post.
Corner awarded.
Suleiman Camara takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Tigran Barseghyan takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Ibrahim Rahim takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Sandro Cruz takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Milot AvdyliYellow CardMilot Avdyli receives a yellow card.
Sandro Cruz receives a yellow card.
Andraz Sporar has a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
The first half ends with the score at 1-1.
Peter Pokorny attempts a header but misses the shot.
Tigran Barseghyan takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Yaya Dukuly takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Offside.
Andrej Kotnik takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Svit SeslarShot by Svit Seslar with a left-footed shot results in a goal.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Svit Seslar scores, making it 1-1.
Yaya DukulyVAR decision results in a penalty awarded to Yaya Dukuly.
Milot Avdyli takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Andrej Kotnik's header is saved.
Pijus Sirvys takes a shot with his right foot, but it is saved.
Goal! Andraz Sporar scores with a right-footed shot.
assist: Kenan Bajric
Goal! Andraz Sporar scores, making it 0-1, assisted by Kenan Bajric.
Andrej Kotnik takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Pijus ŠirvysYellow CardYellow card issued to Pijus Sirvys.
Papa Daniel takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Andrej Kotnik takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Svit Seslar takes a header shot, but it misses the target.
Kick-off! The referee is Alejandro Jose Hernandez.
After a thrilling 1-1 draw in Bratislava, Celje and Slovan Bratislava meet at Stadion Z'dežele with a place in the Champions League league stage on the line. Everything is still to play for in this second-leg showdown, with neither side holding an advantage on aggregate and both teams capable of finding the net.
