Europa League Qual: AEK Larnaca vs Celje 31/07/2025

Betting on the Final Outcome

After defeating Partizan in a penalty shootout in the first round of Europa League qualifiers, AEK Larnaca was drawn against yet another opponent from the Balkans — Slovenian side Celje.

Similar to their rivals, Celje reached this stage after a dramatic encounter. They narrowly edged out Azerbaijani side Baku after extra time, winning 6–5 on aggregate. The hero of the match was Russian international Nikita Iosiof, who scored the decisive goal in the 108th minute.

The first leg between these two teams, played in Slovenia, ended in a 1–1 draw. Much like in their match in Belgrade, AEK was slightly on the back foot for most of the game but managed to hold on through discipline and team spirit — despite being behind at halftime.

Is Celje Being Underrated?

AEK is not a team known for attacking flair, and it’s fair to say they’re less talented than Celje. However, they made up for it in the first leg with a solid defensive display.

In the return leg, they’ll need to open up a bit more in front of their home fans, and that’s where I see an opportunity for Albert Riera’s side. With their quick wingers, Celje could cause serious problems for the home team. It seems to me that AEK is being unjustifiably favored in the return leg, and the visitors are more than capable of pushing the match into extra time.