FC Ararat Armenia vs NK Publikum Celje Preview: UCL Q3 Prediction; Team News

The UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign reaches a pivotal crossroads as FC Ararat Armenia vs NK Publikum Celje kicks off the third qualifying round on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. The Armenian champions have been quietly dismantling the competition route, advancing past Riga FC and Shamrock Rovers to arrive at this stage, while Celje — fresh from a dramatic five-goal aggregate battle against Egnatia — now face their sternest European test of the summer. A two-legged tie separates both clubs from the play-off round, and momentum, fitness, and home advantage could prove decisive.

For Betiball readers tracking this qualifying path, this tie carries real weight: the winner progresses to the UCL play-offs, while the loser drops into the UEFA Europa League play-off round — so there is no consolation exit, only a step down. Both clubs are keenly aware of what is at stake across this first leg in Yerevan.

Match Overview

Ararat Armenia face NK Celje on Tuesday, 4 August 2026 at 16:00 UTC, in a match that is part of the UEFA Champions League Qualification. The 2026/27 UCL qualifying campaign started on 7 July and features a first, second, and third qualifying round, then a play-off stage before the league phase.

The winner of each tie advances to the play-off round, while defeated sides in the champions path are switched to the UEFA Europa League play-off round. The second leg is confirmed at Stadion Z'dežele in Celje on 11 August 2026 , meaning every goal scored in Yerevan on 4 August carries direct aggregate significance.

Celje have previously faced an Armenian side in Europe — losing 1-0 to Ararat Armenia in the 2020-21 Europa League third qualifying round. The current head-to-head record stands at Ararat Armenia 1 win, NK Celje 0 wins, and 0 draws. That single defeat on Armenian soil will not be far from Celje's minds as they prepare for this return visit to Yerevan.

FC Ararat Armenia Form & Recent Results

FC Ararat Armenia finished the 2025/26 Armenian Premier League season in first place, accumulating 60 points from 27 matches — a record of 18 wins, 6 draws, and 3 defeats. That domestic dominance earned them their spot in the UEFA Champions League champions path, and they have carried that momentum into Europe emphatically.

In their opening qualifying campaign this summer, Ararat Armenia beat Riga FC 4-0 on aggregate — winning the first leg 4-3 at home and then holding off a 3-2 loss away, advancing overall. They then dispatched Shamrock Rovers across two legs: Ararat won the first leg 2-0 at home, with goals from Sandro Lima and Zidane Banjaqui. In the second leg at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, they lost 2-1 but advanced 3-2 on aggregate, with Sandro Lima netting the crucial away goal.

Ararat Armenia are managed by Vardan Minasyan, who has built an impressive 63% win rate across 117 matches in charge, averaging 2.07 points per game. The home record at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium has been particularly formidable — Ararat have scored freely on their own turf in both qualifying rounds.

NK Publikum Celje Form & Recent Results

NK Celje operate under manager Albert Riera and call Stadion Z'dežele home. Their 2024-25 campaign saw them finish fourth in the Slovenian PrvaLiga while winning the Slovenian Football Cup, which earned them their UCL qualifying entry this summer.

Celje have won just one of their last five matches heading into this fixture, a 20% win rate, though they have shown good attacking output — scoring 12 goals and conceding 9 across that five-game stretch. Their qualifying route to this round was far from comfortable: they required two legs against Egnatia in the second qualifying round, drawing 3-3 and then 2-2 , advancing on away goals after a pulsating aggregate.

On the transfer front, Celje have added Vitali Lisakovich from Baltika as a new signing ahead of this run. Their top scorer from last season was Armandas Kučys, who netted 17 goals across all competitions — a creative threat who will be central to any Celje attack in Yerevan. The goal-heavy nature of Celje's recent outings (six of their last seven games have produced at least three goals combined) is a pattern Ararat Armenia's backline must be prepared to handle.

Team News & Possible Lineups

FC Ararat Armenia

Ararat Armenia are led by Vardan Minasyan , who has rotated his squad carefully through two qualifying rounds. No confirmed injury or suspension news has been published ahead of this fixture, which suggests the squad is largely healthy entering the third round.

From the lineups used against Shamrock Rovers, the likely framework is a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 system. Goalkeeper Lima, defenders Shaghoyan, Serobyan, Muradyan, and Oliveira, with midfielders Tera, Martins Pereira, and Hovhannisyan, and attackers Bueno, Wilson, and Donna Bravim formed the core unit in the second qualifying round. Key finisher Zidane Banjaqui — who scored from the bench — will push for a starting berth after his impact against Shamrock.

Expected XI (4-3-3): Lima (GK); Muradyan, Serobyan, Oliveira, Shaghoyan; Hovhannisyan, Martins Pereira, Tera; Bueno, Donna Bravim, Banjaqui.

NK Publikum Celje

Celje boss Albert Riera will need to juggle squad freshness after an intense two-legged tie against Egnatia that went to the wire just days before this fixture. The travel schedule from Slovenia to Yerevan adds physical stress on top of that accumulated fatigue.

No confirmed injuries have been reported publicly in the days leading up to this match. Based on their UCL campaign squad, top scorer Armandas Kučys is expected to lead the line, while Veton Tusha (who has registered an assist in this competition), along with Mario Kvesić, Rudi Požeg Vancaš, and Zan Luk Leban are central figures in their likely starting unit.

Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Požeg Vancaš (GK); Leban, Calušić, Seslar, Avdyli; Kotnik, Kvesić; Tusha, Lisakovich, Vuklisevic; Kučys.

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Prediction

Market odds place Ararat Armenia as moderate favourites at 8/5, with the draw priced at 23/10 and NK Celje available at 6/4. Those odds reflect the home advantage and Ararat's superior recent form in this very competition, having won both their UCL home legs by a clean sheet margin. Bettors chasing today's football predictions across multiple qualifying fixtures will note that Celje's attacking stats are among the best in this round — 12 goals in five games is not to be dismissed.

Tactically, Ararat Armenia will look to press high and use the familiar Yerevan turf to their advantage, replicating the 2-0 home blueprint they executed against Shamrock Rovers. Celje, however, are not passive visitors — their 3-3 away display at Egnatia proves they will carry the fight forward. Albert Riera's side will likely play an open, counter-attacking style that suits their attacking talent but could leave gaps against Ararat's quick-transitioning front three. The Slovenians have not kept a clean sheet in their last four competitive outings, which is a telling vulnerability on the road.

Betiball's read: FC Ararat Armenia to edge a competitive first leg 2-1 against NK Publikum Celje, with both teams scoring in a tie that leaves the aggregate outcome open ahead of the return in Slovenia on 11 August. Ararat's home fortress and the individual quality of Sandro Lima and Zidane Banjaqui in this competition give them a narrow but meaningful edge, though Celje's goal threat means a clean sheet for either side looks unlikely.