NK Celje 3-1 AEK Athens
Updated
NK Celje won: NK Celje 3-1 AEK Athens in the Conference League (Round 1) on Thu, 2 Oct 2025 at Stadion Z'dežele, Celje. NK Celje goals: Franko Kovacevic 34', Franko Kovacevic 55', Franko Kovacevic 80'. AEK Athens goals: Dereck Kutesa 7'. Expected goals: 2.94-1.10. Possession: 60-40. Player of the match: Franko Kovacevic (9.7).
Match report
NK Celje beat AEK Athens 3-1
NK Celje came from behind to beat AEK Athens 3-1 at Stadion Z'dežele on Thursday 2 October in the Conference League.
Dereck Kutesa put AEK Athens ahead on 7' (0-1), Franko Kovacevic levelled for NK Celje on 34' (1-1), added another on 55' (2-1) and added another on 80' (3-1).
NK Celje had 60% of the ball, shots were 21-9 (9-5 on target) and expected goals finished 2.94-1.10. NK Celje were the better side on chances, too.
Franko Kovacevic (NK Celje) was player of the match with a 9.7 rating.
Attendance: 7,420. Referee: Oleksii Derevinskyi.
Match stats
| NK Celje | AEK Athens | |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 60 | 40 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 2.94 | 1.10 |
| Total shots | 21 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 9 | 5 |
| Touches in opposition box | 46 | 15 |
| Big chances | 3 | 1 |
| Big chances missed | 1 | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 421 (88%) | 257 (81%) |
| Yellow cards | 3 | 4 |
| Corners | 9 | 4 |
| Total shots | 21 | 9 |
| Shots off target | 3 | 4 |
| Shots on target | 9 | 5 |
| Blocked shots | 9 | 0 |
| Hit woodwork | 1 | 0 |
| Shots inside box | 15 | 8 |
Lineups
NK Celje (4-3-3): Zan-Luk Leban, Juanjo Nieto, Zan Karnicnik, Lukasz Bejger, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Darko Hrka, Mario Kvesic, Vitali Lisakovich, Danijel Sturm, Nikita Iosifov, Franko Kovacevic
AEK Athens (4-4-1-1): Thomas Strakosha, Lazaros Rota, Harold Moukoudi, Filipe Relvas, Stavros Pilios, Niclas Eliasson, Orbelín Pineda, Marko Grujic, Dereck Kutesa, Razvan Marin, Luka Jovic
Key events
- 7' · Goal · Dereck Kutesa (AEK Athens)
- 18' · Yellow card · Thomas Strakosha (AEK Athens)
- 34' · Goal · Franko Kovacevic (NK Celje)
- 53' · Yellow card · Razvan Marin (AEK Athens)
- 55' · Goal · Franko Kovacevic (NK Celje)
- 57' · Substitution · Petros Mantalos for Niclas Eliasson (AEK Athens)
- 57' · Substitution · Aboubakary Koïta for Razvan Marin (AEK Athens)
- 63' · Substitution · Frantzdy Pierrot for Marko Grujic (AEK Athens)
- 64' · Yellow card · Lazaros Rota (AEK Athens)
- 70' · Yellow card · Darko Hrka (NK Celje)
- 74' · Substitution · Papa Daniel for Darko Hrka (NK Celje)
- 74' · Yellow card · Petros Mantalos (AEK Athens)
- 78' · Yellow card · Vitali Lisakovich (NK Celje)
- 79' · Substitution · Andrej Kotnik for Vitali Lisakovich (NK Celje)
- 79' · Substitution · Milot Avdyli for Mario Kvesic (NK Celje)
- 79' · Substitution · Mijat Gacinovic for Stavros Pilios (AEK Athens)
- 79' · Substitution · James Penrice for Dereck Kutesa (AEK Athens)
- 80' · Goal · Franko Kovacevic (NK Celje)
- 84' · Substitution · Matej Poplatnik for Franko Kovacevic (NK Celje)
- 84' · Substitution · Rudi Vancas for Danijel Sturm (NK Celje)
All-time head-to-head
Questions
Who won NK Celje vs AEK Athens?
NK Celje won, 3-1 (Conference League) on Thu, 2 Oct 2025.
When and where is NK Celje vs AEK Athens?
Thu, 2 Oct 2025, 19:00 UTC at Stadion Z'dežele, Celje, Conference League.