Celje Triumphs 2-0 Over Ararat-Armenia in UEFA Champions League
Celje 2-0 Ararat-Armenia at Arena Z’dezele capped a controlled home performance that puts the Slovenians in a strong position in this UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round tie. Two late goals from substitutes Yaya Dukuly and Benjamin Verbič rewarded Celje’s sustained pressure and superior depth, while Ararat-Armenia left Celje empty-handed despite staying compact and level for over 80 minutes.
Match Report
The match opened with Ararat-Armenia trying to disrupt Celje’s rhythm in midfield. That approach quickly drew disciplinary attention: on 19', Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia) received a yellow card (Foul), and in the same minute Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia) was also booked with a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct), signalling an aggressive, stop-start pattern early on.
Celje’s first caution came on 32', when Leonardo Koutris (Celje) was shown a yellow card (Tripping) after stepping in to halt a transition down Ararat-Armenia’s right.
At half-time, Vitor Campelos moved proactively. On 46', Benjamin Verbič replaced Leonardo Koutris (Celje), a switch that pushed Celje’s attacking line higher and would later prove decisive.
Ararat-Armenia responded with their own structural change on 55', as Benny replaced Alwyn Tera (Ararat-Armenia), aiming to freshen the midfield and provide more ball progression.
Celje’s back line then came under the referee’s eye. On 64', Artemijus Tutyškinas (Celje) received a yellow card (Tripping) for a late challenge, and two minutes later on 66', Milot Avdyli (Celje) was booked with a yellow card (Holding) as he stopped a counter down the centre.
Campelos doubled down on attacking impetus on 69'. First, Yaya Dukuly replaced Pijus Širvys (Celje), adding direct running from wide areas. In the same minute, Matej Poplatnik replaced Armandas Kučys (Celje), introducing a more traditional penalty-box presence to pin Ararat-Armenia’s centre-backs.
Ararat-Armenia made a double change on 73' to cope with the mounting pressure. Maxence Carlier replaced Hugo Oliveira (Ararat-Armenia), and Franca Carlos replaced Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia), attempting to stabilise the defensive structure and refresh the midfield legs.
Celje’s midfield aggression continued to draw cards. On 78', Mark Zabukovnik (Celje) was shown a yellow card (Foul) after another committed challenge in the centre of the pitch.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 83'. Celje goal — Yaya Dukuly (assisted by Milot Avdyli). Avdyli, drifting into a pocket between the lines, slid a well-weighted pass into Dukuly’s path, and the substitute finished clinically to the far corner to make it 1-0, validating Campelos’ attacking substitutions.
Ararat-Armenia’s frustration surfaced immediately. On 84', Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia) was booked with a yellow card (Foul) as he overstepped in the press.
Celje then struck again almost instantly. On 85', Celje goal — Benjamin Verbič (unassisted). The winger, who had been pushing high from the left since the break, capitalised on a loose defensive shape, cutting inside and finishing with authority to extend the lead to 2-0 and effectively kill the contest.
Verbič’s intensity spilled over moments later. On 86', he received a yellow card (Unsportsmanlike conduct) after a heated post-goal exchange, underlining the high emotional temperature of the closing stages.
Ararat-Armenia turned to their bench again in search of a late response. On 89', Alioune Ndour replaced Zidane Banjaqui (Ararat-Armenia), adding fresh attacking legs. On 90', Juan A. Balanta replaced Karen Muradyan (Ararat-Armenia), pushing more creativity into central areas for the final minutes.
Celje’s final change came in stoppage time to lock down the result. On 90+1', Ivan Ćalušić replaced Svit Sešlar (Celje), adding defensive security in midfield as Celje calmly saw out a deserved 2-0 victory.
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 shots on target at 8-3 in Celje’s favour and a 2-0 scoreline, the hosts translated territorial and chance volume into a deserved advantage. Possession was evenly split at 50%-50%, but Celje were more purposeful with the ball, repeatedly working shooting positions and forcing Ararat-Armenia to defend deep — reflected in Celje’s higher number of blocked shots (7 vs 4). The visitors, by contrast, generated only three efforts on target and rarely stretched the home defence in sustained phases. Even without xG data, the shot profile and territorial pressure strongly support the fairness of a two-goal margin, particularly given that both Celje goals came after a period of intensified attacking substitutions and sustained pressure in the final third.
Standings Update & Seasonal Impact
Official league standings data for both Celje and Ararat-Armenia were not available, so the precise impact on points, goal difference, and positional shifts within their respective domestic tables cannot be quantified. What is clear is that in the context of the UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, Celje’s 2-0 home win gives them a significant cushion heading into the return leg, while Ararat-Armenia must now chase at least a two-goal swing to keep their continental campaign alive.
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 performance was clinical in both squad management and execution in the final third (2 goals from 8 shots on target), with Campelos’ second-half substitutions — Dukuly and Verbič — directly delivering the decisive goals. Their ability to sustain attacking pressure, as shown by a clear advantage in shots on target (8 vs 3) and blocked efforts (7 vs 4), eventually broke down an Ararat-Armenia side that initially defended with discipline but lacked attacking punch. The visitors were overly reliant on containing Celje, and with only three shots on target and multiple key players booked, their approach proved too conservative once they fell behind. Over the 90 minutes, the balance of chances and territorial pressure fully justified Celje’s 2-0 advantage heading into the second leg.
