Celje and Lugano meet in the first leg of their Conference League last-16 tie on Thursday night.
The Slovenian and Swiss clubs are each bidding to go deep in a European competition for the first time, the visitors having impressively finished in the top eight of the League Phase.
Match preview
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Having never participated in the main phase of a European competition, few people would have foreseen Celje making an appearance in the last 16.
However, a 5-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir on matchday two of the League Phase ultimately set them on their way to an historic achievement.
As much notice should be taken of their competitive defeats to Vitoria de Guimaraes and Real Betis as it should their pivotal 3-2 win over The New Saints on the final matchday.
After a 21st-placed finish, that set up a knockout playoff tie with APOEL, Celje upsetting the odds in the away leg with a 2-0 win to go through 4-2 on aggregate.
Of all the draws that could have been given to them, this is one of the more favourable, and it may prove pivotal for a team that sit well off the pace in the Slovenian Prva table.
Celje are only in fifth place and 16 points adrift of the leaders, last year's champions - who are managed by Albert Riera - left with an uphill task to secure European football for 2025-26.
![FC Lugano Coach Mattia Croci Torti during his side's game against FC Basel at Stadion St Jakob Park Basel, SWITZERLAND on July 27, 2024 [on August 6, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/mattia-croci-torti.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "FC Lugano Coach Mattia Croci Torti during his side's game against FC Basel at Stadion St Jakob Park Basel, SWITZERLAND on July 27, 2024 [on August 6, 2024]")
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Meanwhile, Lugano have also broken new ground this season having previously only counted group-stage appearances in the Europa League and this competition as their best efforts.
On this occasion, they would finish sixth in the League Phase, picking up four victories from six which included a 2-0 triumph over Belgian outfit Gent.
Lugano would also prevail 2-1 at Polish giants Legia Warsaw on matchday five to help them over the line, Mattia Croci-Torti left to dream of going deeper in this tournament.
That is despite their priority arguably being the Swiss Super League, where they sit in fourth position in the table but just three points adrift of the leaders.
Nevertheless, this is a team that have lost their last three competitive fixtures, including a surprise quarter-final exit from the Swiss Cup to Biel-Bienne last week.
Team News
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On the back of the defeat to leaders Olimpija Ljubljana last time out, Reira may consider tinkering with his Celje starting lineup.
Klemen Nemanic is an option to return in defence, potentially replacing Juanjo Nieto, while Aljosa Matko could feature on the right flank.
Armandas Kucys has netted five goals in as many games in the main stage of this competition and should lead the line.
Meanwhile, Ayman El Wafi, Roman Macek and Shkelqim Vladi are among the players who will be under consideration to return to the Lugano XI.
Mattia Bottani should keep his spot, despite his withdrawal versus FC Zurich, while Uran Vislimi - who missed the last game through injury - is suspended.
Celje possible starting lineup:
Silva; Nieto, Bejger, Tutyskinas, Karnicnik; Zabukovnik; Delaurier-Chaubet, Seslar, Svetlin, Prutsev; Kucys
Lugano possible starting lineup:
Saipi; Zanotti, Mai, Hajdari, Valenzuela; Doumbia, Belhadj Mahmoud; Bottani, Dos Santos, Cimignani; Koutsias
We say: Celje 1-1 Lugano
With Celje on a high after the knockout playoff tie, we are backing them to earn at least a share of the spoils from this contest. However, we have to respect Lugano's exploits in the League Phase, leading us to predict a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
