Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia: UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round

Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia at Arena Z’dezele leaves the Slovenians in control of their UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round tie after a late double from substitutes Yaya Dukuly and Benjamin Verbič rewarded a patient, physical performance. With no league standings data available, the significance is framed within Europe: Celje carry a clear advantage into the return leg, while Ararat-Armenia must overturn a two-goal deficit after failing to convert their limited attacking moments.

Match Report

The tone was set early by Ararat-Armenia’s aggression. In the 19th minute, Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia) collected a yellow card for a foul, and moments later Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia) was also booked for unsportsmanlike conduct, underlining the visitors’ combative approach in midfield.

Celje’s left-back Leonardo Koutris (Celje) was cautioned for tripping in the 32nd minute, reflecting a first half in which both sides traded fouls more than chances, with neither able to break the deadlock before the interval.

Celje made the first structural change right after the restart: in the 46th minute Benjamin Verbič replaced Leonardo Koutris (Celje), a move that shifted more attacking responsibility onto the flanks and would later prove decisive.

Ararat-Armenia responded on 55 minutes, with Benny replacing Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia), seeking fresher legs in midfield to cope with Celje’s growing territorial pressure.

The hosts then entered a spiky spell. At 64 minutes, Artemijus Tutyškinas (Celje) was shown a yellow card for tripping, and two minutes later, in the 66th minute, Milot Avdyli (Celje) went into the book for holding, as Celje’s back line resorted to tactical fouls to prevent transitions.

Double changes followed on 69 minutes for the home side: Yaya Dukuly replaced Pijus Širvys (Celje), and Matej Poplatnik came on for Armandas Kučys (Celje), signalling an attacking refresh with more direct threat in the final third.

Ararat-Armenia answered with their own double substitution in the 73rd minute: Maxence Carlier replaced Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia), and Franca Carlos came on for Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia), tweaks aimed at stabilising the back line and adding energy between the lines.

Celje’s disciplinary tally grew in the 78th minute when Mark Zabukovnik (Celje) received a yellow card for a foul, but the hosts were now camped higher up the pitch.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 83rd minute. Celje goal — Yaya Dukuly (assisted by Milot Avdyli). A well-timed run from Dukuly was picked out by Avdyli, and the substitute finished clinically to give Celje a 1-0 lead.

Ararat-Armenia’s frustration showed immediately. In the 84th minute, Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia) was booked for a foul as the visitors tried to press higher in search of a response.

Celje struck again two minutes later. In the 85th minute, Celje goal — Benjamin Verbič (unassisted). The substitute capitalised on space in the attacking third, driving at a retreating defence before finishing, doubling the advantage to 2-0 and putting Celje firmly in command.

Verbič’s intensity then spilled over; in the 86th minute he was shown a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, reflecting the emotionally charged closing stages.

Ararat-Armenia used their bench again late on. In the 89th minute, Alioune Ndour replaced Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia) to add pace up front, and in the 90th minute Juan A. Balanta came on for Karen Muradyan (Ararat-Armenia) to push more attacking impetus from midfield.

Celje’s final change came in stoppage time: at 90+1', Ivan Čalušić replaced Svit Sešlar (Celje), a consolidation move to see out the remaining seconds. Celje closed the match without further alarm to secure a 2-0 home win.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not available vs not available
• Possession: 50% vs 50%
• Shots on Target: 8 vs 3
• Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
• Blocked Shots: 7 vs 4

With both sides sharing possession at 50%-50%, the difference lay in penalty-box efficiency and volume of pressure. Celje produced more shots on target (8 vs 3) and a higher number of blocked efforts (7 vs 4), indicating sustained attacking waves that repeatedly forced Ararat-Armenia’s defensive line into last-ditch interventions. The visitors, by contrast, managed only three efforts on goal and nine corners that rarely translated into clear chances. Even without xG values, the shot profile suggests the 2-0 scoreline was aligned with the balance of chances: Celje were more persistent and incisive in the final third, while Ararat-Armenia’s sporadic attacks lacked both frequency and cutting edge.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

There is no league standings data available for either Celje or Ararat-Armenia, so their exact domestic positions, points totals, and goal differences after this match cannot be quantified. In the context of the UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, however, Celje’s 2-0 victory gives them a strong platform for progression, building a two-goal cushion without conceding an away goal, while Ararat-Armenia face a significant task in the second leg to overturn the deficit.

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’s win was built on a controlled, attritional approach that gradually wore down Ararat-Armenia before being unlocked by proactive substitutions. The hosts were dominant in terms of sustained pressure (8 shots on target and 7 blocked efforts) even without a possession advantage, using width and late-running midfielders to pin the visitors back. The introduction of Verbič, Dukuly and Poplatnik injected pace and directness, directly producing both goals in the final 10 minutes.

Ararat-Armenia’s performance was more reactive than proactive. Despite balanced possession (50%-50%) and a decent corner count (9), they were relatively blunt in attack (only 3 shots on target) and increasingly reliant on fouls to halt Celje’s momentum, as reflected in three yellow cards. Their late changes added energy but came after Celje had already taken control of the scoreline. Overall, this was a measured and ultimately clinical display from Celje (superior shots on target and territorial pressure) against an Ararat-Armenia side that defended in volume but failed to threaten consistently enough to merit an away goal.