Last week these two sides served up a proper thriller in the Champions League qualifier with six goals flying in and a 3 3 draw leaving everything to play for in the return leg over in Slovenia. Celje will be looking to make the most of home support but their leaky backline has already shipped five goals in just two games and that kind of generosity can cost them a historic spot in the next round. Egnatia on the other hand have shown they can grind out results in Europe with one win and two draws so far yet their own defence has looked shaky at times too.
Team Form
- Celje drew 2 2 in their league opener and have now conceded five goals across 180 minutes of football
- Egnatia remain unbeaten in three Champions League qualifying ties with one victory and two stalemates
- Both clubs are chasing a first ever appearance in the third qualifying round
The high scoring first leg showed plenty of attacking intent but with a place in the next stage on the line expect a more cautious approach this time around. Celje missed chances to close out the tie away from home and will need to tighten up at the back while Egnatia must find a way to nick a goal without leaving themselves open on the counter.
Tactical Analysis
- Celje enjoy strong home support but their midfield has struggled to protect the defence in recent outings
- Egnatia rely on quick transitions and set piece threats yet they have yet to keep a clean sheet in Europe this season
- Motivation is sky high for both teams as they chase club history
Conditions in Slovenia should favour a tighter contest and neither side can afford to throw caution to the wind. The first leg fireworks might not repeat themselves given what is at stake and a low scoring affair looks the likely outcome.
Betting Proposal
After weighing up the defensive frailties and the importance of the tie my types point towards a cagey game where goals could be hard to come by. The smart play is to back the under on the total goals market.
Total less than 2.5 goals at odds of 2.15 stands out as the value selection for this second leg clash.
