Match Prediction
Match Prediction
World
Preview
Celje vs Drita prediction time is here, and the setting is perfect: 26 February 2026, 17:45 GMT, under the lights at Stadion Z’dežele in Slovenia (around 13,000 seats). This is the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout play-off second leg, and Celje bring a slim but precious 3–2 lead from the first leg in Kosovo. No away-goals rule to hide behind anymore, so the maths is simple: Celje protect the advantage, Drita must chase.
Celje have looked refreshed since the turn of the year, and the timing of their managerial change has been important. New head coach Ivan Maevskiy (appointed 2 February 2026) has leaned into a more assertive style than the previous regime: higher pressing, faster recoveries, and more direct wide play. It has helped them stack wins domestically, and it also showed in Kosovo where they survived a chaotic game and still came away with the win.
Expect Celje to start in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, using width and quick combinations to pin Drita back. Wingers like Nikita Iosifov can stretch the pitch, while the midfield tries to keep Drita from launching clean counters. Drita, coached by Zekirija Ramadani, are usually compact and disciplined, then sharp in transition. The problem for the visitors is that “compact” is easier to sell at 0–0 than when you’re trailing the tie.
One more note for the “anything can happen” crowd: Celje have already shown they can punch above their weight in Europe, like that 2–2 away draw with Fiorentina back on 2025-04-17 at huge odds. Drita have their own proof of stubbornness too, earning a 0–0 away draw at Antwerp on 2022-07-21 despite long-shot odds. If you’re looking for head to head storylines, this tie is writing one: Celje’s control vs Drita’s belief.
Now to the numbers that shape our Celje vs Drita prediction for NerdyTips readers. The market strongly favours the hosts: Home win 1.444, Draw 5.4, Away win 9.0. That gap fits the overall picture: Celje’s home run, a one-goal aggregate lead, and a higher squad valuation (€12.65m vs €7.78m) that usually shows up over 90 minutes.
Goals are the other big angle. Four of Celje’s last five European games have cleared 2.5, and the first leg ended 3–2, which is not exactly a poster for caution. Drita must open up at some point, and that can turn one Celje break into a second goal very quickly.
Final read: Celje should manage the game better than they did in Kosovo, but not necessarily keep it quiet. If Drita chase early, spaces appear; if they wait, time becomes Celje’s best defender. Either way, our betting tips point to the hosts finishing the job, with goals along the way.
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Best Tip odd is moving up from 1.28
1 -227
Celje is expected to win with odds of -2271 -227
Celje is expected to win with odds of -227Over 2.5 -164
At least 3 goals will be scored in the matchYes -118
Both teams are expected to score1X&O2.5 -122
Home win/draw and over 2.5 goals
1:0
3:1
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1
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0
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0
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 Drita |
19-Feb-26
2:3
| Celje  |
Recent Matches of Celje| 12 Mar |
Celje
| - |
AEK Athens FC
| - | |
| 05 Mar | L |
Aluminij
| 2 |
Celje
| 1 |
| 01 Mar | L |
Bravo
| 1 |
Celje
| 0 |
| 26 Feb | W |
Celje
| 3 |
Drita
| 2 |
| 19 Feb | W |
Drita
| 2 |
Celje
| 3 |
| 14 Feb | W |
Celje
| 5 |
Mura
| 1 |
| 08 Feb | L |
O. Ljubljana
| 3 |
Celje
| 1 |
| 04 Feb | W |
Celje
| 3 |
Radomlje
| 1 |
| 01 Feb | D |
Maribor
| 3 |
Celje
| 3 |
| 18 Dec | D |
Celje
| 0 |
Shelbourne
| 0 |
Recent Matches of Drita
| 07 Mar | W | Drita |
3 |  Prishtina |
0 |
| 01 Mar | D |  Prishtina |
1 | Drita |
1 |
| 26 Feb | L | Celje |
3 | Drita |
2 |
| 22 Feb | W |  KF Llapi |
0 | Drita |
2 |
| 19 Feb | L | Drita |
2 | Celje |
3 |
| 14 Feb | W | Drita |
1 |  Drenica |
0 |
| 10 Feb | L | Drita |
1 | KF Llapi |
2 |
| 07 Feb | W |  Ferizaj |
0 | Drita |
1 |
| 30 Jan | D | Drita |
1 |  Michalovce |
1 |
| 21 Jan | L |  Dobrudzha |
4 | Drita |
1 |
World - UEFA Europa Conference League| Team | Matches | Goals | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Strasbourg | 6 | 11-5 | 16 |
| 2 |
Raków | 6 | 9-2 | 14 |
| 3 |
AEK Athens FC | 6 | 14-7 | 13 |
| 4 |
Sparta Praha | 6 | 10-3 | 13 |
| 5 |
Rayo Vallecano | 6 | 13-7 | 13 |
| 6 |
Shakhtar | 6 | 10-5 | 13 |
| 7 |
FSV Mainz 05 | 6 | 7-3 | 13 |
| 8 |
AEK Larnaca | 6 | 7-1 | 12 |
| 9 |
Lausanne | 6 | 6-3 | 11 |
| 10 |
Crystal Palace | 6 | 11-6 | 10 |
| 11 |
Lech Poznan | 6 | 12-8 | 10 |
| 12 |
Samsunspor | 6 | 10-6 | 10 |
| 13 |
Celje | 6 | 8-7 | 10 |
| 14 |
AZ Alkmaar | 6 | 7-7 | 10 |
| 15 |
Fiorentina | 6 | 8-5 | 9 |
| 16 |
HNK Rijeka | 6 | 5-2 | 9 |
| 17 |
Jagiellonia | 6 | 5-4 | 9 |
| 18 |
Omonia Nicosia | 6 | 5-4 | 8 |
| 19 |
FC Noah | 6 | 6-7 | 8 |
| 20 |
Drita | 6 | 4-8 | 8 |
| 21 |
KuPS | 6 | 6-5 | 7 |
| 22 |
Shkendija | 6 | 4-5 | 7 |
| 23 |
Zrinjski | 6 | 8-10 | 7 |
| 24 |
Sigma Olomouc | 6 | 7-9 | 7 |
| 25 |
Universitatea | 6 | 6-8 | 7 |
| 26 |
Lincoln Red Imps | 6 | 7-15 | 7 |
| 27 |
Dynamo Kyiv | 6 | 9-9 | 6 |
| 28 |
Legia Warszawa | 6 | 8-8 | 6 |
| 29 |
Slovan | 6 | 5-9 | 6 |
| 30 |
Breidablik | 6 | 6-11 | 5 |
| 31 |
Shamrock | 6 | 7-13 | 4 |
| 32 |
BK Hacken | 6 | 5-8 | 3 |
| 33 |
Hamrun | 6 | 4-11 | 3 |
| 34 |
Shelbourne | 6 | 0-7 | 2 |
| 35 |
Aberdeen | 6 | 3-14 | 2 |
| 36 |
Rapid Vienna | 6 | 3-14 | 1 |
