Today game between Bayer Leverkusen and NK Celje go kick off at 20:00. The Europa League match dey BayArena. Both Bayer Leverkusen and NK Celje currently dey first for Europa League standings heading into this fixture. No head-to-head data dey available between Bayer Leverkusen and NK Celje from recent meetings. This fixture na rare European encounter between the two clubs.
Bayer Leverkusen don record three wins, one draw, and one defeat across their last five matches. Their most recent outing na 2-2 draw with Augsburg for Bundesliga. Their best result for that run na commanding 4-0 win over Union Berlin. The only defeat come against Elversberg, a 3-2 loss wey break wetin been otherwise productive run. Leverkusen score 13 goals across those five games, though the Elversberg result show say dem fit dey vulnerable defensively.
NK Celje don struggle for consistency, winning just one of their last five matches. Their most recent fixture end in 2-1 defeat to NK Bravo for Prva Liga. Dem also lose 1-0 to Koper the week before. Their only victory come against Aluminij, a 2-0 win on the road. Celje don concede for four of their five matches and go need show greater defensive resilience at BayArena.
Bayer Leverkusen boss Carles Martinez insist say his focus go remain on his own side ahead of their Europa League match against Celje, who appoint new manager on Tuesday. Leverkusen don make inconsistent start to season under Martinez, losing their Bundesliga opener against newly promoted Elversberg before beating Union Berlin 4-0 and drawing 2-2 with Augsburg.
This go be Leverkusen first Europa League game since dem lose the 2023-24 final against Atalanta for Dublin. Dem don win 14 of their last 16 group-stage games for the competition, with one draw and one loss, winning their last nine at home while netting 37 goals.
However, there go be some unknowns about their upcoming opponents, who very recently sack Vitor Campelos and appoint Zoran Zeljkovic. Despite the managerial change, Martinez main concern na the performance of his Leverkusen side. He tok say dem analyse them thoroughly over past few days and weeks, just as dem do with every opponent. He tok say they only just miss out on Champions League qualification and as always dem get great respect for opponents. But dem no know exactly wetin to expect under their new coach, whether dem go sit deep or play high up pitch, look to keep possession, or play with back four or back five. But in any case, dem primarily focus on themselves.
Leverkusen only two previous European games against Slovenian teams were for 1999-00 Champions League against Maribor, winning 2-0 away and drawing 0-0 for Germany. Across the 11 major European meetings between German and Slovenian clubs, German sides don lose just once, with six wins and four draws, a 1-0 win for Domzale for UEFA Cup in September 2005 against Stuttgart. This na Celje fourth-ever major European season – dem go out for first round of 2003-04 UEFA Cup, then feature for Conference League in both 2024-25, where dem be quarter-finalists, and 2025-26, where dem reach last 16.
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