Egnatia Rrogozhine vs Celje Prediction: Visitors should have too much quality

Celje begin their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign on Wednesday with a trip to Arena Egnatia to take on Egnatia Rrogozhine (20:00KO). The hosts won the Albanian Kategoria Superiore last season, but were still forced to enter the Champions League in the first qualifying round.

Egnatia had no issues progressing as they hammered Petrocub Hincesti 7-2 across two legs, but they will have to raise their game to compete with their Slovenian opponents in the second qualifying round. Celje have won the Slovenian Prva Liga three times since the 2019/20 campaign and they will expect to leave Albania with a victory.

Team News

Egnatia midfielder Albano Aleksi missed the club's last European fixture through suspension, but he will return to the fold on Wednesday.

Aleksi's return should mean Karim Loukili drops to the bench.

Celje midfielder Jost Pisek remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury and he is not expected to return until November.

Armandas Kucys was sent off in Celje's first league game of the new season on Sunday, but that ban only applies to domestic competition and he should be fine to start.

Egnatia Rrogozhine vs Celje Odds

Despite having home advantage, Egnatia are 5/2 outsiders for Wednesday's first leg, with the draw 23/10 and Celje considered 1/1 favourites.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 1/1, while those who fancy a low-scoring affair can back under 2.5 goals at 4/5.

Both teams to score is considered a 4/5 shot, while Celje are as big as 5/1 to win both halves in Rrogozhine.

Celje to win @ EVENS

The fact that Celje do not enter the competition until the second qualifying round already proves they are considered a stronger team than their hosts.

Egnatia have reached the second qualifying round for the first time and they are unbeaten in six games in all competitions.

Celje have never advanced past the second qualifying round, but confidence will be high after five consecutive away wins, with Vitor Campelos' team keeping four clean sheets during that run.

The visitors have reached the quarter-finals and last-16 in the last two seasons in the UEFA Conference League and that experience will be crucial on Wednesday night.

Celje have a better squad and more experience than their hosts and that should become evident in the first leg.

Both teams to score - Yes @ 4/5

While Celje have what it takes to take a lead in the tie, they will not be given an easy ride by Nevil Dede's troops.

Egnatia have scored 10 goals in their last three home games, while they have scored in nine consecutive matches.

With so much at stake at home, expect Egnatia to go down swinging, as their best chance of qualifying will come from a positive result at home.