Celje should take this tie. They host the second leg at Stadion Z'dežele after a wild 3-3 draw away in the first meeting on 22 July. Both sides showed real attacking intent but left plenty of gaps at the back.
Mario Kvesic scored twice that night and looks sharp again. He captains the side and will want to lead them into the next round. Svit Seslar and Armandas Kucys add real threat up front. The home side line up in a 4-4-2 shape with Zan-Luk Leban in goal and players like Yaya Dukuly and Milot Avdyli providing width.
Egnatia travel with their own dangers. Ibrahim Diabate grabbed the equaliser last time out while Alessandro Albanese and Fernando Medeiros keep things ticking in midfield. Their predicted 3-5-2 includes Mario Dajsinani between the posts and Eljon Sota at the back. But Soumaila Bakayoko stays sidelined with the injury picked up on that first-leg night.
Celje miss Jost Pisek too. The defensive midfielder has been out since April with a cruciate tear and won't return until November. That leaves a hole in front of the defence that Egnatia might try to exploit on the break.
The aggregate sits level at 3-3. One more goal either way could swing things fast. Celje's home record and fresher options in attack give them the slight advantage to progress to the third qualifying round.
Recommended Bets
Celje win @1.85 — home advantage and Kvesic in form after two goals in the first leg point to a narrow victory.
Over 2.5 goals @1.75 — the opening match produced six goals and both teams look open defensively.
Celje -0.5 Asian handicap @2.05 — they should edge the second leg at home despite the aggregate being level.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
