Slovan Bratislava and NK Celje draw 1-1 in Champions League playoff

ŠK Slovan Bratislava and NK Celje played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff at Štadión Tehelné pole. Roman Čerepkai opened the scoring for Slovan in the 15th minute, but Milot Avdyli equalized for the Slovenian side just before halftime.

The result leaves the tie open for the second leg, which will be held in Slovenia. The winner of this matchup will secure a place in the Champions League league phase, a move that carries significant financial implications, including a potential premium of approximately 18.62 million euros for reaching the main stage.

NK Celje, managed by Vítor Campelos, enters the tie in strong form, having secured recent victories to reach this stage. Slovan Bratislava, led by Yaya Touré, remains the favorite due to home advantage and international experience, but the draw provides Celje with a viable path toward a historic achievement.