[26-27 UEL Europa League] NK Celje vs AC Omonia Preview and Analysis Kick-off: 16 October, 16:45 UTC
NK Celje and AC Omonia meet at Stadion Z’dežele in Celje, Slovenia, at 16:45 UTC on 16 October for matchday two of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League league phase. After losing their opener, NK Celje are looking for points in the club’s first home game in a Europa League league phase. AC Omonia began with a win over Celta Vigo and are seeking their first away victory in European competition this season.
1. Match overview and team form
The two reigning domestic champions reached this stage by different routes. NK Celje dropped into the Europa League after drawing both legs of their Champions League qualifying tie with Slovan Bratislava 1-1. AC Omonia lost to Kairat Almaty on penalties in Champions League qualifying, then beat Sint-Truiden in the Europa League play-offs. This is the first competitive meeting between the clubs.
Their league phase openers went in opposite directions. NK Celje lost 2-0 away to Leverkusen. Both goals came from corners, while seven saves from goalkeeper Žan Luk Leban kept the scoreline from getting worse. AC Omonia beat Celta Vigo 1-0 at home, with the winner coming from Jure Balkovec from around 32 metres in the 88th minute. In the data centre’s match records, NK Celje posted 0.90 expected goals and 1.87 expected goals against; AC Omonia recorded 0.30 and 1.09. Each side has played just one Europa League match, against a different opponent, so these figures cannot be treated as a measure of their overall attacking or defensive strength this season.
Category Europa League matchday one: NK Celje 0-2 away to Leverkusen / AC Omonia 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo Recent home and away records in the available sample: NK Celje, 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in 10 home games / AC Omonia, 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in 9 away games European away form this season: NK Celje, none / AC Omonia, 0 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in 3 matches, with 1 goal scored and 3 conceded
The second line shows strong home form for NK Celje and a good away record for AC Omonia. But six of AC Omonia’s nine away games came in the Cyprus league. They are still without a win on the road in European competition. They played with ten men from the 26th minute against Kairat, while they conceded in stoppage time against Sint-Truiden. Their away losses are difficult to pin on a defensive collapse, but scoring just once across those three matches is a clear concern. All six of NK Celje’s home wins came by one or two goals. They have turned close games into results at home, but that record does not point to a wide margin against this opponent.
AC Omonia have the better domestic form. As of 13 October, they sit third in the Cyprus league with 11 points from five matches. NK Celje are sixth in Slovenia with 15 points. After losing three of four league games in September, they replaced Vitor Campelos with Zoran Zeljković. His first two league matches brought a 0-0 draw with Mura and a 1-0 win over Aluminij. Across three games since his appointment, including the Leverkusen match, NK Celje have not conceded from open play, but they have scored only once. They had plenty of possession against Mura but could not break down a compact defence, while against Aluminij they failed to add to their early goal after taking the lead in the 10th minute.
The managers’ preferred approaches also point to how the match may begin. Zeljković said he wants NK Celje to have more possession and create more chances than they did against Leverkusen. The home side are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, using Benjamin Verbič’s runs down the left and Svit Sešlar’s attacking work from the second line. Henning Berg’s AC Omonia have limited opponents’ chances by conceding possession on European away trips. They defend in two banks of four, then use Ewandro Costa’s delivery and long-range shooting when they attack. Against Celta Vigo, they sat deep to close off space and created chances with shots from distance.
Neither team is expected to have major absences among the likely starters. NK Celje will be without long-term injury absentee Jošt Pišek. Verbič and Pijus Širvys, who were left out of the squad against Aluminij, are included in the expected line-up, though their involvement will only be confirmed when the teams are announced. Against Leverkusen, Verbič took players on and got a shot away, and his cross from the left created a headed chance. AC Omonia’s Karel Eiting and Fotis Kitsos are not on the Europa League squad list. Brouwers travelled despite carrying an injury, and his availability will be decided shortly before kick-off. If he cannot play, Berg will have fewer attacking options to bring on later.
The fixture schedule could affect the teams’ second-half plans. NK Celje travel to face league leaders Maribor three days later. Midfielder Mark Zabukovnik stressed the importance of that match, while also saying NK Celje would give everything against AC Omonia. Zeljković said the next game is the most important one, but did not play down this match. There is little reason to expect a weakened starting line-up. Zabukovnik is still working his way back and came on as a substitute against Aluminij, so the timing of any midfield change is worth watching.
2. Match-up analysis
NK Celje are expected to have more of the ball, with AC Omonia defending in a deep block. That should give the home side time to attack, but possession alone does not guarantee good chances. NK Celje had more of the ball against Mura without turning it into a goal. AC Omonia allowed Celta Vigo several shots in the box but kept a clean sheet through defensive blocks and saves from goalkeeper Fabiano. If NK Celje rely on repeated crosses, centre-backs Senou Coulibaly and Ľubomír Šatka should be able to deal with them. They also need to attack the second ball after a cross and get shots away from the second line.
Verbič’s availability and AC Omonia’s positioning on the right will matter in that battle. In the expected line-up, Verbič would face Giakoumakis? No, he is expected to face Giankou? [sic]
