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

Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia at Arena Z’dezele keeps the Slovenians in control of their UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round tie, built on a late surge from the bench rather than sustained dominance. With no league standings context attached to this fixture, the significance lies primarily in the two-goal cushion and clean sheet they take into the return leg, while Ararat-Armenia leave Celje knowing their compact game plan unraveled in the final 10 minutes.

Match Report

The game opened with both sides trying to impose a 4-3-3 structure, and the first flashpoint arrived on 19 minutes when Ararat-Armenia’s midfield aggression spilled over. At 19' Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia) received a yellow card (Foul), and in the same minute 19' Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia) was also booked with a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct), underlining the visitors’ physical approach in central areas.

Celje’s first caution came just after the half-hour mark as they struggled to contain transitions down their left. At 32' Leonardo Koutris (Celje) was shown a yellow card (Tripping), a warning sign of the defensive strain on Celje’s back line in wide zones.

Celje adjusted at the interval. At 46' Benjamin Verbič replaced Leonardo Koutris (Celje), an attacking substitution that pushed Celje higher on the left and hinted at a more front-foot second half.

Ararat-Armenia responded with their own structural tweak in midfield. At 55' Bernardo Dias (“Benny”) replaced Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia), looking to add more composure on the ball after Tera’s early booking and heavy involvement in duels.

The game became increasingly stop-start as Celje accumulated more cards. At 64' Artemijus Tutyškinas (Celje) received a yellow card (Tripping), followed two minutes later at 66' by a yellow card for Milot Avdyli (Celje) (Holding), reflecting Celje’s willingness to break up Ararat-Armenia’s attempts to counter.

On 69 minutes Celje reshaped their front line. At 69' Yaya Dukuly replaced Pijus Širvys (Celje), injecting fresh legs and direct running from wide areas. In the same minute, 69' Matej Poplatnik replaced Armandas Kučys (Celje), adding a more traditional focal point up front.

Ararat-Armenia turned to their bench in the 73rd minute to stabilize the back line and midfield. At 73' Maxence Carlier replaced Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia), and at 73' Carlos França replaced Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia), as the visitors tried to refresh their defensive structure and ball progression.

Celje’s increasing territorial pressure continued to come at a disciplinary cost. At 78' Mark Zabukovnik (Celje) picked up a yellow card (Foul), the fifth booking for the home side as they persistently pressed and counter-pressed in midfield.

The breakthrough finally arrived from one of Celje’s substitutes. At 83' Celje goal — Yaya Dukuly (assisted by Milot Avdyli). Dukuly’s late run and Avdyli’s involvement between the lines rewarded Celje’s earlier decision to change their attacking personnel, putting them 1-0 up and tilting the tie.

Ararat-Armenia’s frustration showed almost immediately. At 84' Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia) was booked with a yellow card (Foul) as the visitors chased the ball higher and left more space behind.

Celje capitalized again within two minutes, this time through another substitute. At 85' Celje goal — Benjamin Verbič (unassisted). Verbič, who had been introduced at half-time, drove at a tiring defense and finished without the need for a creator, doubling the lead to 2-0 and effectively deciding the night.

Verbič’s intensity also brought disciplinary risk. At 86' Benjamin Verbič (Celje) received a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct), a sign of the game’s growing emotional edge in the closing stages.

Ararat-Armenia made late attacking and midfield changes in search of an away goal. At 89' Alioune Ndour replaced Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia), adding fresh attacking presence, and at 90' Juan Balanta replaced Karen Muradyan (Ararat-Armenia), a further attempt to inject creativity from midfield.

Celje’s final substitution came in stoppage time to help see out the result. At 90+1' Ivan Ćalušić replaced Svit Sešlar (Celje), adding fresh defensive energy to protect the 2-0 advantage. The hosts then managed the remaining seconds without further incident to close out a disciplined, if card-heavy, win.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not listed for either side
• Possession: Celje 50% vs 50% Ararat-Armenia
• Shots on Target: Celje 8 vs 3 Ararat-Armenia
• Goalkeeper Saves: not listed for either side
• Blocked Shots: Celje 7 vs 4 Ararat-Armenia

Despite the balanced 50–50 share of possession, Celje were more incisive in the final third, registering 8 shots on target to Ararat-Armenia’s 3 and blocking 7 efforts at the other end. The 2-0 scoreline aligns with the shot profile: Celje generated more sustained pressure, particularly after the hour when their substitutions took effect, while Ararat-Armenia’s compact block limited territory but did not translate into high-volume or high-quality chances. Without xG data, the shot-on-target differential and blocked-shot count still point to Celje creating and denying the better opportunities, justifying a multi-goal margin.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings data provided for either Celje or Ararat-Armenia, the immediate impact is framed within the UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round rather than domestic tables. Celje’s 2-0 home win gives them a strong platform in the tie, combining a clean sheet with a two-goal buffer that forces Ararat-Armenia to chase at least two goals in the return leg. For the visitors, the defeat means their margin for error in the second match is minimal: conceding once at home would leave them needing at least four on the night to progress outright.

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, Alwyn Tera, Artur Serobyan, Zidane Banjaqui
• FW: Sandro Lima

Post-Match Verdict

Celje’s performance was clinical in the decisive phase (2 goals from 8 shots on target) but built on an aggressive, sometimes overly robust, defensive structure (5 yellow cards and 16 fouls). Their bench made the difference: both goals came from substitutes, with Yaya Dukuly and Benjamin Verbič turning a previously stalemated contest into a commanding home win. Ararat-Armenia’s display was disciplined without the ball but ultimately blunt in attack (only 3 shots on target despite 50% possession and 9 corners). Their inability to convert set-piece volume and early defensive intensity into clear chances leaves them with a steep task in the second leg, while Celje travel with a platform that rewards their late-game tactical and personnel adjustments.