Slovan Bratislava host Celje in Champions League play-off return
Slovan Bratislava welcome Celje for a Champions League play-off tie, with the two clubs renewing acquaintance for the first time since their group-stage meetings in the 2024-25 competition.
The fixture is scheduled for 19 August, with kick-off set for 19:00 UTC at Slovan Bratislava's ground in the city.
Previous meetings favour the hosts
When these sides last met, Slovan Bratislava won 5-0 at home before a 1-1 draw was played out in the reverse fixture in Celje. That earlier tie ended with the Slovak side progressing on the balance of the two results, and it remains the only European history between the clubs heading into this play-off.
History alone will count for little in a new tie, but the memory of that heavy home win will offer Slovan Bratislava's supporters some encouragement ahead of the first leg.
Form lines tell a close story
Slovan Bratislava arrive on the back of three wins and a draw in their last four matches, a run that edges them slightly ahead of Celje's recent record of two wins, two draws and a defeat over the same number of games.
The gap between the two sides' recent results is narrow rather than decisive, and with a two-legged tie to be settled, both squads will know an even margin at present says little about where the play-off ultimately ends up.