- NK Celje are the favorites here, but the odds are not great and the draw looks overpriced.
- The visitors are in better form with 3 wins and 2 defeats from their last 5 matches.
Celje's home advantage and form should count for something
The odds suggest this should be a close game and it is likely to be tight, but the visitors look more likely to edge it. Our NK Celje vs FC Ararat-Armenia preview points to a very even contest, with the bookies having NK Celje as slight favorites at 1.84, but FC Ararat-Armenia are a nice price at 4.36 and the tie at 3.73 is a bit overpriced given Celje are unbeaten in their last three at home (W1, D2). In all competitions, Celje have gone 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats from their ten most recent matches, while Ararat-Armenia have a much more impressive record of seven wins, three defeats and no draws from their most recent ten. Tulipa's side clearly have the sharper edge and with the tie already in the bag after a 2-1 win in the previous meeting, they have the upper hand. The Slovenians have averaged 2.83 goals per-game at home across all competitions, so they will surely be looking to get ahead early and make it difficult for their opponents, although this could also turn into a game of end-to-end soccer depending on how Celje approach the first goal. Our NK Celje vs FC Ararat-Armenia prediction is that the home side will push hard early, but the visitors may still have enough to stay competitive.
Ararat-Armenia's possession-based game should contain Celje
Vitor Campelos was named NK Celje manager on the 13th of March 2026 and has brought a different tact approach to the Slovenians, most notably playing two up front and utilising the width of the pitch from the full-backs, which should bring a transition heavy style to this tie.
Ararat-Armenia are more of a possession-based side who try to keep it tight in defense and patiently create chances, so this should hopefully be a match where they can slow down the pace and reduce the amount of space for Celje's forwards to operate in. The NK Celje vs FC Ararat-Armenia betting tips suggest that controlling midfield battles could be decisive here.
Mario Kvesic is the most dangerous player for the Slovenians with four goals in three appearances in the UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 so far and four from his last nine goals in all competitions. Ararat-Armenia's sharpest finisher so far has been Sandro Lima with three goals in five appearances and three of their last seven goals.
Ararat-Armenia have won one and lost two of their last three away games, so they have not exactly been convincing on the road, but I still feel they can get a result in Slovenia and at the very least keep this tie close.
