NK Celje clinches third qualifying round of Champions League
NK Celje defeated Albanian champions KF Egnatia on penalties after a 2‑2 aggregate draw in the second qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. The tie was level‑led by Darko Hrka’s own‑goal for Egnatia in the 21st minute, an equaliser from Mario Kvesić in the 34th minute and a penalty by Kvesić in the 97th minute. Egnatia restored parity at 2‑2 when Geralb Smajli scored in the 114th minute.
Celje then prevailed 4‑1 in the shoot‑out, with Mario Kvesić, Ivan Ćalušić, and two others converting, while Egnatia missed twice. The victory secured Celje a place in the third qualifying round where they will face Ararat‑Armenia and marked the third consecutive season that a Slovenian club enjoys a European autumn in the UEFA competitions.
Entities: Ararat‑Armenia · Darko Hrka · Geralb Smajli · KF Egnatia · Mario Kvesić · NK Celje
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 11 SOURCES] Celje advanced to the third qualifying round of the Champions League to face Ararat‑Armenia (multiple)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Celje defeated Egnatia on penalties after a 2‑2 draw in the second leg of the 2026/27 Champions League qualifiers (source)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Geralb Smajli equalised for Egnatia in the second leg (multiple)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Celje won the penalty shootout 4‑1 (multiple)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Darko Hrka scored an own goal for Egnatia in the second leg (multiple)
- [● 11 SOURCES] The first leg of the tie ended 3‑3 in Rrogozhinë (multiple)
- [● 11 SOURCES] Celje's win secures a European autumn for Slovenian clubs for the third consecutive year (multiple)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Mario Kvesić scored for Celje in the second leg (multiple)