NK Celje vs KF Egnatia tickets for Champions League qualifying and a fan guide to Stadion Z'dežele in Celje

NK Celje vs KF Egnatia: guide to the return leg that decides the European path

NK Celje and KF Egnatia meet at Stadion Z'dežele in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Kick-off is scheduled for July 28 at 20:15, and the venue is Opekarniška cesta 15 in Celje. Progression brings at least one more step in the Champions League, while the losing side continues its European journey in another competition.

At the time this guide was prepared, the first match of the tie had not yet been played. It is scheduled for July 22 in Rrogozhinë, so the specific scoreline situation for the return leg will only be known after that encounter. This is the first competitive two-legged tie between these clubs. Celje want to take advantage of their home ground and greater European experience, while Egnatia arrive on a winning run.

Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, and interest is further increased by the fact that this is Celje's first home European match of the new season.

What is at stake for both teams

NK Celje enter the qualifiers as Slovenian champions for the 2025/26 season. They secured the title with four rounds remaining and finished the season with 74 points and 85 goals scored. Such a performance raised expectations, although an important part of the squad changed during the summer.

KF Egnatia arrive as Albanian champions and winners of a third consecutive title. In the concluding "Final Four" match, they defeated Dinamo City 2:0, with Alessandro Albanese scoring both goals. Egnatia then drew 1:1 away to Petrocub in the first qualifying round before beating them 6:1 at home and progressing 7:2 on aggregate. This is a warning to Celje that the Albanian champions quickly punish lost possession and lapses in concentration.

• Celje enter the competition directly in the second qualifying round.
• Egnatia have already passed one round and played two competitive European matches.
• The return leg in Celje decides the overall winner of the tie.
• The result of the first match will determine how much risk both teams must take.

Celje between a championship season and changes in the team

Vítor Campelos took charge of Celje in March and signed a contract until the end of May 2028. Under his leadership, the team completed the job in the league, but the summer transfer window brought departures that cannot be ignored. Žan Karničnik, Juanjo Nieto and Nikita Iosifov left the club after their contracts expired. Celje consequently lost their captain and an important player in the back line, a wide player who contributed to building attacks, and one of last season's most productive attacking players.

The club responded with new arrivals. Žiga Frelih strengthened the competition among the goalkeepers, Leonardo Koutris arrived for the left side, Pijus Širvys and Alpha Diounkou offer new options on the right, while Veton Tusha and Yaya Dukuly bring pace on the wings. The changes broaden the range of options, but they require time to develop automatic understanding, especially in defence.

The first league match of the new season ended in a 2:2 draw against Mura at Stadion Z'dežele. Before that, Celje beat Shkëndija 1:0 and MTK Budapest 4:3 in pre-season, drew 1:1 with Čukarički and lost 0:1 to Hajduk. The team has attacking solutions, but it is still searching for balance.

Between the two matches against Egnatia, Celje visit Aluminij on July 25. Campelos must distribute playing time without losing rhythm or unnecessarily exhausting his key players.

Jošt Pišek, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, is listed in the publicly available injury information for Celje. Before the first match, there was no equally reliable confirmation of a specific absence for Egnatia, so speculation about the line-up should be avoided.

Players who can determine Celje's rhythm

Svit Sešlar remains the most important creative player between the lines. His left foot, vision and ability to receive the ball under pressure give Celje a way to bypass the first wave of the opposition's press. Mark Zabukovnik is important for balance in midfield, winning second balls and protecting the space in front of the centre-backs.

In attack, Armandas Kučys provides height and the ability to play with his back to goal, while Matej Poplatnik offers a different movement profile inside the penalty area. Milot Avdyli can attack space from the wing, while Rudi Požeg Vancaš and Mario Kvesić offer experience, shots from deeper positions and solutions against a deeper block. Campelos must assess how many of the new wide defenders he can immediately involve in a high-risk match.

Egnatia arrive with a clear identity and winning habits

Coach Nevil Dede leads a team accustomed to matches for trophies. A third consecutive title confirms their continuity, while six goals against Petrocub show how quickly Egnatia raise the tempo when they sense weakness in an opponent.

Dede has a group of experienced players through the central axis and several forwards with different characteristics. Egnatia do not need to keep the ball for long to be dangerous. It is enough for them to win possession in midfield, quickly find a winger or forward and attack an unsettled defence. Celje's reaction after losing the ball will therefore be one of the most important details of the return leg.

• Alessandro Albanese scored both goals in the match with which Egnatia won the title.
• Soumaila Bakayoko provides runs in behind and finishing through the centre of the attack.
• Ildi Gruda brings directness, changes of direction and movement from the flank into the penalty area.
• Albano Aleksi and Fernando Medeiros provide experience in midfield.
• Eneo Bitri and Arbenit Xhemajli offer strength in duels and set pieces.

Egnatia's threat is not limited to a single goalscorer. Celje must defend the space in front of the centre-backs, as well as cut-backs toward the edge of the penalty area.

Tactical questions that will shape the return leg

In front of their home supporters, Celje will probably want longer phases of possession, high-positioned full-backs and enough players between the opposition's lines. That suits Sešlar and the technically skilled midfielders, but it opens space behind the wide defenders. If Egnatia send Gruda or another quick attacker into those areas, the home centre-backs may be left defending a large amount of space.

Depending on the result of the first match, Egnatia will choose the height of their defensive block. If they arrive in Celje with a lead, they can close the centre, concede possession to the home side and look for a transition after intercepting the ball. If they have to chase the result, Dede will need more players ahead of the ball, which may open space for Celje to attack behind the last line.

Set pieces may carry great importance. Both teams have tall centre-backs and forwards capable of winning the first duel, so one corner or free kick could change both coaches' plans.

• Celje must protect the space behind their high-positioned wide defenders.
• Egnatia must prevent Sešlar from receiving the ball while facing the goal.
• The second ball after an aerial duel may be more important than the initial cross.
• The team that scores first will gain the opportunity to control the tempo and level of risk.
• Substitutions will be particularly important because of the congested schedule and the possibility of extra time.

Stadion Z'dežele and the atmosphere in the stands

Stadion Z'dežele is located in Celje Sports Park, in the Hudinja district, next to Zlatorog Hall and a shopping area. Its capacity is 13,059 seats, 7,000 of which are covered. The pitch has natural grass, and the stadium has undersoil heating, an irrigation system and floodlights suitable for evening matches.

The largest western stand accommodates 4,850 spectators, while the southern stand is also intended for organised groups and visiting supporters. When the home sections fill up, the noise descends toward the pitch.

Celje have played a large number of international matches at this ground in recent seasons, so the crowd recognises the moments when it needs to increase the pressure.

Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the result of the first match leaves the tie open. It is worth securing tickets in time and checking the section stated on the ticket before arriving.

How to reach the stadium and what to plan before departure

The stadium's address is Opekarniška cesta 15a, 3000 Celje. Visitors arriving by train reach the station on the edge of the old city centre. They can continue toward Hudinja by Celebus, taxi or on foot with the help of local transport. The current city system includes ten regular routes, and schedules change depending on the day and roadworks, so they should be checked on the day of the match.

Drivers should not count on finding a free space immediately next to the stadium. The city has parking zones, garages and a P+R location, while Centralka displays the locations and occupancy of some parking areas. For an evening European match, it is sensible to leave the vehicle farther from the stadium and complete the final part of the journey on foot or by public transport.

• Use the full address Opekarniška cesta 15a for navigation.
• Check the current Celebus timetable on the day of the match.
• Drivers should review the city's parking zones and garages before entering Hudinja.
• Do not leave your arrival until the final minutes, because the approaches to the stadium fill up before kick-off.
• The opening time of the entrances had not been announced in the sources checked on July 22, so follow the club's notice on the day of the match.

Supporters should arrive at the stadium early enough for the security check and to find their section. It is advisable to have the ticket ready before reaching the checkpoint, especially if it is stored on a phone. The club supports saving tickets in a mobile wallet, which may speed up entry when the network around the stadium is congested.

Celje as a short stop for visiting supporters

Celje is a compact city between Ljubljana and Maribor, with rail and road connections in both directions. The old city centre is next to the railway station, while the stadium is farther north, in Hudinja. Visitors who arrive earlier can remain in the centre and head toward the stadium after checking traffic information.

Celje Old Castle is the city's most recognisable landmark, but on matchday the railway station, bus routes, parking and timely movement are more important. The return journey after the evening match should be planned in advance because the finish may be later in the event of extra time and penalties.

Ticket sales for this match are under way, and travelling supporters should coordinate their ticket, transport and accommodation before the result of the first match further increases interest.

What to check after the first match

The most important new piece of information will be the result of the first match. If the margin is minimal or the first match ends in a draw, Celje will probably try to take the initiative from the first minute at home. A larger advantage for one side will change the distribution of risk, but it will not remove the danger of an early goal that completely changes the atmosphere.

It is also necessary to follow the line-ups from the first match, cards, possible injuries and Campelos's decisions in the league match against Aluminij. For Egnatia, it will be important to see whether Dede retains the same attacking structure that dismantled Petrocub or adds another midfielder away from home to control the centre.

Practical checks remain for visitors: the opening time of the entrances, possible traffic changes, rules for the visiting section and permitted items. This information may be published immediately before the match and takes precedence over general instructions for reaching the stadium.

Sources:
- NK Celje - match schedule, 2025/26 championship title, coach, summer squad changes, pre-season results and stadium information.
- Albanian Football Association - confirmation of Egnatia's third consecutive title and the final victory against Dinamo City.
- ESPN - Egnatia's results against Petrocub and the aggregate score of the first qualifying round.
- Champions League match centre - registered squads, tie schedule and current players of both teams.
- Municipality of Celje - stadium capacity and number of covered seats.
- Nomago and Centralka Celje - city bus transport, timetables and parking information.
- Visit Celje - transport location of the railway station, parking zones and basic information for arriving in the city.