2024–25 NK Celje season

Celje
2024–25 season
Manager	Albert Riera
Stadium	Stadion Z'dežele
Slovenian PrvaLiga	5th
Slovenian Football Cup	Round of 32
UEFA Champions League	Second qualifying round
UEFA Europa League	Third qualifying round
UEFA Conference League	Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer	League: ; Armandas Kučys (9); All: ; Armandas Kučys (17)

The 2024–25 season is the 106th year in the history of NK Celje and the 11th consecutive season in the top division. In addition to competing in the domestic league, Celje is also taking part in the Slovenian Football Cup and the UEFA Conference League. They were eliminated from both the Champions League and UEFA Europa League during the qualifying rounds.

Transfers

Out

Pos.	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
DF	David Zec	Holstein Kiel	Undisclosed	1 January 2025

Friendlies

Pre-season

19 June 2024 Friendly	Celje	2–2	Borac Banja Luka	Zreče
18:00 UTC+2				Stadium: Zreški Stadion

25 June 2024 Friendly	Celje	2–0	Corvinul Hunedoara
17:30 UTC+2

28 June 2024 Friendly	Celje	2–3	Oțelul Galați	Kranjska Gora
11:00 UTC+2				Stadium: Športni Park Ruteč

28 June 2024 Friendly	Celje	1–0	Rapid București	Kranj
17:30 UTC+2				Stadium: Športnega Centra Kranj Pomožnem Terenu

Mid-season

18 January 2025 Friendly	Osijek	2–2	Celje
11:30

25 January 2025 Friendly	Celje	2–0	Široki Brijeg
11:30

Competitions

Overall record

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Slovenian PrvaLiga	21 July 2024		Matchday 1		10	5	2	3	18	14	+4	050.00
Slovenian Football Cup	25 September 2024		Round of 32		1	1	0	0	3	0	+3	100.00
UEFA Champions League	10 July 2024	30 July 2024	First qualifying round	Second qualifying round	4	2	1	1	8	7	+1	050.00
UEFA Europa League	8 August 2024	15 August 2024	Third qualifying round	Third qualifying round	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1	050.00
UEFA Conference League	22 August 2024		Play-off round		2	1	0	1	4	2	+2	050.00
Total					19	10	3	6	35	26	+9	052.63

Last updated: 28 September 2024
Source: Competitions

Slovenian PrvaLiga

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
2	Maribor	36	19	10	7	64	32	+32	67	Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round
3	Koper	36	19	9	8	60	35	+25	66	Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round
4	Celje	36	17	10	9	76	51	+25	61	Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round^[a]
5	Bravo	36	14	13	9	52	44	+8	55
6	Primorje	36	11	10	15	41	61	−20	43

Source: PrvaLiga
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored
Notes:

^ Celje qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2024–25 Slovenian Football Cup.

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	9	4	7	35	31	+4	31	6	1	4	21	19	+2	3	3	3	14	12	+2

Last updated: 8 February 2025.
Source: soccerway

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Ground	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	A
Result	W	W	L	W	D	L	D	W	W	L	W	W	L	L	W	W	D	D	L	L
Position	3	2	4	2	3	5	6	5	3	5	4	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	5

Updated to match(es) played on 8 February 2025. Source:
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

The match schedule was released on 27 June 2024.^[1]

21 July 2024 1	Celje	2–1	Bravo	Celje
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

3 August 2024 3	Mura	1–0	Celje	Murska Sobota
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Fazanerija City Stadium

11 August 2024 4	Celje	4–2	Radomlje	Celje
17:30 UTC+2				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

18 August 2024 5	Olimpija Ljubljana	2–2	Celje	Ljubljana
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Stožice Stadium

25 August 2024 6	Celje	0–3	Primorje	Celje
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

1 September 2024 7	Koper	0–0	Celje	Koper
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Bonifika Stadium

15 September 2024 8	Celje	3–1	Nafta 1903	Celje
17:30 UTC+2				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

18 September 2024 2	Celje	2–1	Maribor	Celje
				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

22 September 2024 9	Domžale	0–3	Celje	Domžale
20:15 UTC+2				Stadium: Domžale Sports Park

28 September 2024 10	Bravo	3–2	Celje	Ljubljana
17:30 UTC+2				Stadium: Stožice Stadium

6 October 2024 11	Maribor	1–2	Celje	Maribor
17:30 CET	Krajnc 3' Širvys 17' Repas 25' 59' Repas 54' Sikošek 89'	Report	Zec 50' Kučys 61' Edmilson 90+2' 90+2'	Stadium: Ljudski vrt Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Rade Obrenović

19 October 2024 12	Celje	4–3	Mura	Celje
15:00 CET	Zec 43' 78' Kvesić 63' 70' Kučys 69' Vuklišević 75' Matko 80'	Report	Vizinger 8' 48' Maroša 86' (pen.)	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Slavko Vinčić

27 October 2024 13	Radomlje	4–2	Celje	Domžale
17:30 CET	Stjepan Davidović 53' Niko Gajzler 73' Vucenovic 81' Dobrovoljc 90+2' Zukić 90+6'	Report	Kvesić 8' Sešlar 65' Matija Kavčič 75' Matko 90+2'	Stadium: Domžale Sports Park Attendance: 350 Referee: Anže Jerič

3 November 2024 14	Celje	0–1	Olimpija Ljubljana	Celje
15:00 CET	Svetlin 77'	Report	David Sualehe 25' Florucz 50' 75' Doffo 77' Thalisson 80' Manuel Pedreño 90+2'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 3,625 Referee: Bojan Mertik

10 November 2024 15	Primorje	1–3	Celje	Nova Gorica
20:15 CET	Smajlagić 11' (pen.) Duan Ignjatović 90+2'	Report	Nemanič 55' Kvesić 66' Edmilson 74' (pen.) Zec 83'	Stadium: Nova Gorica Sports Park Attendance: 200 Referee: Martin Matoša

23 November 2024 16	Celje	1–0	Koper	Celje
15:00 CET	Brnić 15' Nemanič 50'	Report	Di Mateo Lovrić 38' Jurić 38' Felipe Curcio 38' Ahmed Sidibé 74' 86' Juric 81' Pabai 90+3'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,374 Referee: Matej Jug

1 December 2024 17	Nafta	0–0	Celje	Lendava
15:00 CET	Darko Hrka 76'	Report	Sešlar 46'	Stadium: Lendava Sports Park Attendance: 1,500 Referee: David Šmajc

7 December 2024 18	Celje	2–2	Domžale	Celje
15:00 CET	Íñigo Eguaras 45+1' Sešlar 62' Brnić 78' Kvesić 80'	Report	Šturm 8' 53' Abraham Nwankwo 56' Luka Kambič 90+1'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 750 Referee: Žan Jazbec

1 February 2025 19	Celje	2–3	Bravo	Celje
15:00 CET	Delaurier-Chaubet 23' Brnić 46' Edmilson 82' Karničnik 85'	Report	Trdin 24' Atemona 33' Beno Selan 60' Poplatnik 76'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,250 Referee: Slavko Vinčić

8 February 2025 20	Celje	1–2	Maribor	Celje
15:00 CET	Kučys 64' Zabukovnik 90'	Report	Tetteh 23' Elmaz 25' 52' Repas 90+1'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 2,850 Referee: David Šmajc

16 February 2025 21	Mura	0–0	Celje	Murska Sobota
15:00 CET		Report		Stadium: Fazanerija City Stadium Attendance: 1,490 Referee: Dejan Balažič

23 February 2025 22	Celje	9–1	Radomlje	Celje
17:30 CET	Sešlar 7' Prutsev 11' 21' Kučys 16' Tutyškinas 58' 78' Edmilson 71' Íñigo Eguaras 75' Svetlin 90+2'	Report	Jaša Martinčič 31' 49' Korun 65'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,030 Referee: Žan Jazbec

2 March 2025 23	Olimpija	2–0	Celje	Ljubljana
15:00 CET	Florucz 40' Doffo 60' Tamm 62'	Report	Juanjo Nieto 22' Karničnik 34'	Stadium: Stožice Stadium Attendance: 3,200 Referee: Slavko Vinčić

9 March 2025 24	Celje	2–2	Primorje	Celje
17:30 CET	Kvesić 27' Clément Lhernault 37' Tutyškinas 66' Kučys 90+3'	Report	Edvin Suljanović 55' 72' Ishaq Rafiu 70' Domagoj Babin 82'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,020 Referee: Dejan Balažič

16 March 2025 26	Celje	3–2	Nafta	Celje
20:15 CET	Prutsev 40' Tutyškinas 62' Kouter 78' Zabukovnik 87' Kučys 90+3'	Report	Zsombor Kálnoki-Kis 59' Szabolcs Szalay 68' Darko Hrka 79'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 840 Referee: Aleksandar Matković

29 March 2025 27	Domžale	0–1	Celje	Domžale
20:15 CET	Šturm 44' Luka Kambič 57' Lukas Hempt 90+3'	Report	Kvesić 11'	Stadium: Domžale Sports Park Attendance: 250 Referee: Alen Bubek

6 April 2025 28	Bravo	1–2	Celje	Ljubljana
17:30 CET	Baboula 25' 45+1'	Report	Kvesić 14' Matko 32' 38' Juanjo Nieto 39' Zabukovnik 53' Bejger 55' Tutyškinas 73' Edmilson 90+2'	Stadium: Stožice Stadium Attendance: 250 Referee: David Šmajc

13 April 2025 30	Celje	2–1	Mura	Celje
17:30 CET	Dulca 55' Sešlar 72' Iosifov 82' Svetlin 90+5' (pen.)	Report	Antolin 5' Sadriu 82'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 1,364 Referee: Slavko Vinčić

21 April 2025 31	Radomlje	1–3	Celje	Domžale
15:00 CET	Gordić 22' Nino Vukasović 67' Vokić 73'	Report	Juanjo Nieto 22' Prutsev 48' 77' Matko 79' 84'	Stadium: Domžale Sports Park Attendance: 350 Referee: Denis Šabanagič

27 April 2025 32	Celje	3–3	Olimpija	Celje
17:30 CET	Juanjo Nieto 38' Kvesić 38' Isosifov 43' Svetlin 68' Sešlar 70' (pen.) Matko 82' 83' Prutsev 88' 90+2'	Report	Dino Kojić 6' Durdov 38' Doffo 38' David Sualehe 58' (pen.) 64' Florucz 90+5' 90+6'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 3,270 Referee: Mihael Antič

30 April 2025 25	Koper	1–1	Celje	Koper
18:45 CET	Felipe Curcio 76' Kamil Manseri 82' Maj Mittendorfer 86'	Report	Kvesić 23' Matko 50' Zabukovnik 65' Sešlar 69' Nemanič 75' Svetlin 90'	Stadium: Bonifika Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: David Šmajc

4 May 2025 33	Primorje	0–5	Celje	Ajdovščina
17:30 CET	Haris Kadrić 52' Maj Fogec 61'	Report	Edmilson 5' Prutsev 6' 43' Sešlar 25' Dulca 68' Iosifov 83' Tutyškinas 90+3'	Stadium: Ajdovščina Stadium Attendance: 150 Referee: Božo Kondić

Slovenian Football Cup

25 September 2024 Round of 64	Dravinja	0–3	Celje	Slovenske Konjice
15:30 UTC+2			Matko 13', 51' Pišek 82'	Stadium: Štadion Dobrava Referee: Gašper Lončar

30 October 2024 Round of 32	Hodoš	0–8	Celje	Hodoš
14:00 CET		Report	Edmilson 8' 75' 76' Dulca 12' Pišek 15' 69' Bralić 44' Nemanič 49'	Stadium: Nogometno igrišče Hodoš Attendance: 350 Referee: Blaž Bezjak

26 February 2025 Round of 16	Celje	3–2	Tabor Sežana	Celje
16:00 CET	Karničnik 17' Nemanič 25' Íñigo Eguaras 32' 57' Matko 40'	Report	Mihael Briški 33' (pen.) Matevž Medič Slaček 81' Kamal Bafounta 90+1'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 730 Referee: Darjan Kovačič

2 April 2025 Quarter-finals	Maribor	0–1	Celje	Maribor
19:00 CET	Soudani 86'	Report	Vuklišević 62' Delaurier-Chaubet 83' Nemanič 86'	Stadium: Ljudski vrt Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Rade Obrenović

24 April 2025 Semi-finals	Celje	–	Olimpija	Celje
18:00 CET				Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele

UEFA Champions League

UEFA Europa League

UEFA Conference League

League phase

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
19	Víkingur Reykjavík	6	2	2	2	7	8	−1	8	Advance to knockout phase play-offs (unseeded)
20	Borac Banja Luka	6	2	2	2	4	7	−3	8
21	Celje	6	2	1	3	13	13	0	7
22	Omonia	6	2	1	3	7	7	0	7
23	Molde	6	2	1	3	10	11	−1	7

Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: League phase tiebreakers

Round	1	2	3	4
Ground	A	H	A	H
Result	L	W	L	D

First match(es) will be played on ?. Source: UEFA
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

2 October 2024 1	Vitória de Guimarães	3–1	Celje	Guimarães, Portugal
15:30 UTC+1	Samu 7' Gustavo Silva 36' Tiago Silva 62'	Report	Matko 45' Kučys 69' Edmilson 87'	Stadium: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques Attendance: 10,263 Referee: Lothar D'hondt

24 October 2024 2	Celje	5–1	Başakşehir	Celje
18:45 UTC+2	Svetlin 5' Brnić 30' Sešlar 34' Kučys 37' 51' 77' Zec 81'	Report	Ba 24' Özdemir 35' Türüç 70' Opoku 74' Pelkas 75' Davidson 81'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 2,175 Referee: Oleksiy Derevinskyi

7 November 2024 3	Real Betis	2–1	Celje	Seville, Spain
21:00 UTC+1	Natan 75' Juanmi 90+4'	Report	Karničnik 35' Kučys 49' Juanjo Nieto 54' 81' Lovro Štubljar 90+1'	Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín Attendance: 37,618 Referee: Novak Simović

28 November 2024 4	Celje	3–3	Jagiellonia Białystok	Celje
18:45 UTC+2	Zec 7' Juanjo Nieto 33' 53' Nemanič 33' Adrián Diéguez 80' (o.g.)	Report	Afimico Pululu 34' Churlinov 39' Jesús Imaz 70' Hansen 77' Nguiamba 86'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 3,520 Referee: Allard Lindhout

12 December 2024 5	Pafos	2–0	Celje	Limassol, Cyprus
22:00 UTC+2	Luckassen 23' Pileas 36' Dragomir 48' Correia 28', 63' Name 90+1'	Report	Svetlin 17' Zabukovnik 24	Stadium: Alphamega Stadium Attendance: 2,051^[2] Referee: Paweł Raczkowski

19 December 2024 6	Celje	3–2	The New Saints	Celje
21:00 UTC+1	Edmilson 20' (43) Nemanič 39' Kouter 76' Zec 79'	Report	Davies 19' Daniels 29' Holden 42' Roberts 71'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 2,640^[3] Referee: Lukas Fähndrich

Knockout phase

Knockout phase play-offs

The draw for the knockout phase play-offs was held on 20 December 2024.^[4]^[5]

13 February 2025 (2025-02-13) First leg	Celje	2–2	APOEL	Stadion Z'dežele, Celje
18:45	Kučys 2', 59'	Report	Abagna 32' Laifis 70'	Attendance: 4,050^[6] Referee: Mykola Balakin

20 February 2025 (2025-02-20) Second leg	APOEL	0–2	Celje	GSP Stadium, Nicosia
21:00 (22:00 UTC+2)		Report	Kučys 45+4' Svetlin 51'	Attendance: 9,108^[7] Referee: John Beaton

Round of 16

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 21 February 2025, 14:00 CET.^[8]

6 March 2025 (2025-03-06) First leg	Celje	1–0	Lugano	Stadion Z'dežele, Celje
21:00	Svetlin 23'	Report		Attendance: 5,712^[9] Referee: António Nobre

13 March 2025 (2025-03-13) Second leg	Lugano	5–4 (a.e.t.) (1–3 p)	Celje	Stockhorn Arena, Thun^{[note 1]}
18:45	Mahmoud 21' Koutsias 42', 80' Dos Santos 44' Doumbia 118'	Report	Sešlar 40' Svetlin 68' Kučys 90+5' (pen.) Nieto 97'	Attendance: 1,853^[11] Referee: Andris Treimanis
	Penalties
	Przybyłko Steffen Mai Cimignani		Edmilson Sešlar Karničnik

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 21 February 2025, 14:00 CET.^[8]

10 April 2025 First leg	Celje	1–2	Fiorentina	Celje, Slovenia
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Vuklišević 55' Delaurier-Chaubet 68' (pen.)	Report	Ranieri 27', 49' Moreno 35' Zaniolo 53' Mandragora 62' (pen.) Dodô 87' Parisi 90+6'	Stadium: Stadion Z'dežele Attendance: 12,512 Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)

17 April 2025 Second leg	Fiorentina	2–2 (4–3 agg.)	Celje	Florence, Italy
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Mandragora 37', 61' Folorunsho 55' Kean 67'	Report	Matko 54' Nemanič 65' Vuklišević 90+5'	Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi Attendance: 13,195 Referee: João Pinheiro (Portugal)

Notes

^ Lugano played their home matches at Stockhorn Arena, Thun, instead of their regular stadium, Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano, due to renovation work.^[10]

References

^ K, R. "Štajerski derbi konec julija, večni derbi konec avgusta". rtvslo.si.
^ "Full Time Summary Matchday 5 – Pafos v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
^ "Full Time Summary Matchday 6 – Celje v The New Saints" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
^ "UEFA Conference League knockout round play-off draw". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
^ "2024/25 UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-off draw results" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
^ "Full Time Summary Knockout phase play-offs 1st Leg – Celje v APOEL" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
^ "Full Time Summary Knockout phase play-offs 2nd Leg – APOEL v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
^ ^a ^b "UEFA Conference League round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draws: Where is it, when is it, who is involved?". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
^ "Full Time Summary Round of 16 1st Leg – Celje v Lugano" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
^ "L'FC Lugano alla Stockhorn Arena di Thun" [FC Lugano at the Stockhorn Arena in Thun] (in Italian). FC Lugano. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
^ "Full Time Summary Round of 16 2nd Leg – Lugano v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

[table_note_res_EL1Q0.44366076050497-1] Celje qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2024–25 Slovenian Football Cup.

[Lugano-12] Lugano played their home matches at Stockhorn Arena, Thun, instead of their regular stadium, Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano, due to renovation work.^[10]

[2] K, R. "Štajerski derbi konec julija, večni derbi konec avgusta". rtvslo.si.

[3] "Full Time Summary Matchday 5 – Pafos v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.

[4] "Full Time Summary Matchday 6 – Celje v The New Saints" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

[5] "UEFA Conference League knockout round play-off draw". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 14 December 2024.

[KPP_draw_results-6] "2024/25 UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-off draw results" (PDF). Union of European Football Associations. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.

[7] "Full Time Summary Knockout phase play-offs 1st Leg – Celje v APOEL" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.

[8] "Full Time Summary Knockout phase play-offs 2nd Leg – APOEL v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.

[draw-9] "UEFA Conference League round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draws: Where is it, when is it, who is involved?". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 13 February 2025.

[10] "Full Time Summary Round of 16 1st Leg – Celje v Lugano" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.

[11] "L'FC Lugano alla Stockhorn Arena di Thun" [FC Lugano at the Stockhorn Arena in Thun] (in Italian). FC Lugano. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.

[13] "Full Time Summary Round of 16 2nd Leg – Lugano v Celje" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

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