Planning a football night in Yerevan? Ararat-Armenia and NK Celje meet on 4 August 2026 in the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers. Before buying tickets, check the latest confirmation of the stadium and kick-off time, then arrange your journey and stay in the city
The first step towards the final qualifying hurdle
Ararat-Armenia and NK Celje meet in Yerevan in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The tie brings together the reigning champions of Armenia and Slovenia, and the winner will secure a place in the final qualifying hurdle before the league phase. The return leg is scheduled for 11 August in Celje, so the result in Yerevan will not immediately decide which team advances, but it could completely change how both sides approach the second match.
The hosts enter the encounter after a dramatic victory over Shamrock Rovers. Ararat-Armenia won 2:0 in Yerevan and then lost 2:1 in Dublin, but Sandro Lima's goal in the 74th minute preserved a 3:2 aggregate advantage. Celje advanced from an even more uncertain tie: after a 3:3 draw against Egnatia in Albania, the return leg in Slovenia ended 2:2 after extra time, and the Slovenian champions were more accurate in the penalty shootout, winning 4:1.
Tickets for this encounter are in demand among supporters who want to watch the first part of a tie between two national champions. It is particularly important to check the information on the ticket before travelling because different details regarding the stadium and kick-off time appear in the available schedules.
Important verification of the stadium and kick-off time
The initial event details list TCA Stadium at Acharyan St 33/1 and a 21:00 kick-off. However, updated international schedules for the same match list Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in central Yerevan, while several services show the kick-off at 16:00 UTC, or 20:00 local time in Armenia.
This is not a minor difference. TCA Stadium is located in the northern part of the city, while Republican Stadium is at 65 Vardanants Street, closer to the city centre. Supporters should therefore not plan their transport solely according to the older event description. The authoritative information is that printed on the finally issued ticket and the organiser's latest notice immediately before the match.
Republican Stadium has 14,403 seats and is considerably larger than the academy stadium on Acharyan Street. If Republican Stadium remains the confirmed venue, the match will be played at a traditional city stadium with fully separated stands around the pitch and more space for home and visiting supporters. The location and schedule should be checked again before arrival.
How both teams reached this tie
Ararat-Armenia have already played four qualifying matches. The Armenian champions first established a 2:0 advantage against Riga FC in Yerevan and then survived a 3:2 defeat in Riga. In the following round, they once again built their decisive advantage at home, defeating Shamrock Rovers 2:0 with goals from Sandro Lima and Zidane Banjaqui.
Celje opened their European season against Egnatia. Vítor Campelos's team drew twice in high-scoring matches and only secured qualification after 210 minutes of football and a penalty shootout.
- Ararat-Armenia - Riga FC 2:0
- Riga FC - Ararat-Armenia 3:2, 3:4 on aggregate
- Ararat-Armenia - Shamrock Rovers 2:0
- Shamrock Rovers - Ararat-Armenia 2:1, 2:3 on aggregate
- Egnatia - NK Celje 3:3
- NK Celje - Egnatia 2:2 after extra time, 4:1 after penalties
The sequence of results demonstrates two different kinds of resilience. Ararat-Armenia established an advantage in Yerevan in both previous rounds and then defended it away from home. Against Egnatia, Celje twice had to respond after conceding goals and remain composed during extra time and the shootout. The first match in Yerevan will therefore be a clash between hosts seeking another advantage before travelling and visitors who have already shown that they can remain in a tie even when the match becomes chaotic.
Ararat-Armenia rely on experience and direct play
Manuel Tulipa leads a team that secured the Armenian championship title one round before the end of the previous season. When the title was confirmed, Ararat-Armenia had 57 points from 26 matches, with 17 wins, six draws and only three defeats. Such a record explains why the hosts do not necessarily have to dominate possession in order to control the result.
Sandro Lima has been the most important name in the qualifying campaign so far. The Brazilian striker scored the opening goal in the home victory over Shamrock Rovers and then scored the goal in the return leg that halted the Irish comeback. Shamrock erased a two-goal deficit in the first half, but Lima exploited the space late in the match and restored Ararat-Armenia's aggregate lead.
Artur Serobyan and Zhirayr Shaghoyan give the hosts pace behind and alongside the central striker. Serobyan was among the club's most dangerous Armenian players in the previous league season, while Shaghoyan can receive the ball between the lines or make runs from a wide position. Zidane Banjaqui provides additional energy from the bench or from deeper positions, as he demonstrated by scoring the goal for 2:0 in the first match against Shamrock.
Tulipa started that match with Lima closest to the opposition goal, while Serobyan, Shaghoyan and Alwyn Tera played behind him. Hugo Oliveira and Karen Muradyan were tasked with closing the space in front of the defence. This structure allows the hosts to play quick vertical passes after winning the ball without retaining possession for too long in the first phase of the attack.
Celje arrive with a midfield that creates and finishes attacks
Celje's most important player in the tie against Egnatia was Mario Kvesić. He scored twice in the first match in Albania, while in the return leg he scored from open play and then converted a penalty in extra time. Four goals in the same tie demonstrate how frequently he enters the final third from midfield and how important he is when Celje must attack an organised defence.
Armandas Kučys provides the central target in attack. The Lithuanian striker scored in the first match against Egnatia, while his ability to play with his back to goal creates space for Kvesić, Svit Sešlar and the wide players. Sešlar can carry the ball through the half-spaces and accelerate play in the final third, while captain Mark Zabukovnik maintains the balance between creating play and providing cover behind the ball.
Vítor Campelos used an initial 4-3-3 formation against Egnatia. Pijus Širvys and Leonardo Koutris were the full-backs, Darko Hrka and Artemijus Tutyškinas formed the central defensive partnership, while the midfield trio consisted of Kvesić, Papa Mustapha Daniel and Zabukovnik. Sešlar, Kučys and Milot Avdyli played ahead of them.
The tactical contest could be decided after possession is lost
Ararat-Armenia will attempt to reproduce the pattern from their previous home matches: patiently maintain their compact shape, avoid opening unnecessary space and accelerate as soon as Serobyan, Shaghoyan or Tera receive the ball while facing the goal. Lima is not a striker who needs a large number of touches. His value lies in his movement between the centre-backs and his well-timed arrival for the final pass.
Celje are likely to enjoy longer spells of possession. Kvesić and Sešlar are capable of finding passes between the home midfield and defensive lines, but every misplaced pass in that area could open a counter-attack towards the flanks. The positioning of Zabukovnik and one of the full-backs will therefore be as important as the creativity of the attackers.
- Sandro Lima - finishing and movement between the centre-backs
- Artur Serobyan - accelerating the hosts' attacks down the right
- Mario Kvesić - a midfielder's runs into the penalty area
- Armandas Kučys - holding up the ball and aerial play
- Mark Zabukovnik - Celje's balance after losing possession
The first 20 minutes could determine the rhythm of the entire evening. At home against Shamrock, Ararat-Armenia accepted periods without the ball but remained dangerous whenever their opponents made a mistake. Celje showed against Egnatia that they can score, but they conceded five goals across the two matches. The visitors must therefore find the right balance between attacking continuity and protecting their centre-backs.
The only previous encounter was won by the Armenian club
Ararat-Armenia and Celje have met once before, on 24 September 2020 in Europa League qualifying. The Armenian club won 1:0 after extra time.
The format is different this time because the tie is played over two matches. The hosts do not need to settle everything in one evening, while Celje do not have to chase victory at all costs. Nevertheless, Ararat-Armenia's experience from the previous two rounds suggests that the Armenian champions will attempt to establish an advantage before the return leg. Seats in the stands quickly disappear when the home club play a match in Yerevan that directly affects the continuation of their European season.
Stadium, entrances and expected atmosphere
If Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium is confirmed as the final venue, supporters can expect a 14,403-capacity stadium at 65 Vardanants Street. The venue was opened in 1935 and has subsequently been renovated several times. The stands are close to the athletics track and visibility varies between sectors, so it is useful to check the entrance, row and seat markings in advance.
The opening time of the entrances has not been confirmed in publicly available schedules. It is reasonable to arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before kick-off, particularly because of possible additional ticket checks, the separation of supporter sections and the difference between the venues appearing in match announcements.
Getting to the match and practical information
Yerevan has a metro system, city buses and widely available taxi services. Republican Stadium is located closer to the city centre and Republic Square, while TCA Stadium is in the Avan district on Acharyan Street. Because of this difference, it is not advisable to book transport to the stadium in advance until the location printed on the ticket has been confirmed.
- Check the stadium name and address on the final ticket.
- Check whether the kick-off is listed as 20:00 or 21:00 local time.
- For Republican Stadium, use the address 65 Vardanants Street.
- For TCA Stadium, use the address Acharyan St 33/1 in the Avan district.
- If arriving by car, expect limited space in the immediate vicinity of the entrances.
- Arrive early because the gate opening time has not been confirmed in the available announcements.
Yerevan as the host city
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, with a compact centre around Republic Square, Northern Avenue and the Opera House. If the match is confirmed at Republican Stadium, visitors can combine sightseeing in the city centre with travelling to the stadium without a long journey across the city. A separate trip towards the north-eastern part of Yerevan should be planned for TCA Stadium.
What to watch during the first match
The most important question will be whether Celje can maintain their attacking width without leaving space for Serobyan and Shaghoyan. If the Slovenian champions lose the ball while both full-backs are positioned high up the pitch, Lima will immediately look for depth between the centre-backs. If Celje manage to slow down the hosts' first transition, Kvesić and Sešlar should have more time to organise attacks.
The second question concerns physical expenditure. Celje played extra time against Egnatia only one week before travelling to Yerevan, while Ararat-Armenia had to defend their aggregate advantage under intense pressure in Dublin. Rotations and substitutions after the 60th minute could therefore have a greater impact than the starting formations.
The third question is what result would satisfy the visitors. A draw would leave Celje with an open path before the return leg at Stadion Z'dežele, while Ararat-Armenia will probably seek at least a narrow advantage. Ticket sales for this match are under way, and supporters should pay particular attention to the finally confirmed location and kick-off time.
Sources:
- ESPN - match schedules, tie dates and results against Shamrock Rovers and Egnatia.
- NK Celje - coach Vítor Campelos, team squad and reports from the tie against Egnatia.
- Fastex Premier League - Ararat-Armenia's title, the performance of Manuel Tulipa's team and qualifying match results.
- Sky Sports - Celje's starting line-up, formation and events from the return leg against Egnatia.
- Flashscore and FotMob - current match location, form, previous head-to-head encounter and kick-off time.
- StadiumDB and Yerevan Transport - Republican Stadium capacity and practical information about public transport.