NK Celje vs FC Lugano Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League
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by Joseph King | in Conference League Predictions
The Europa Conference League round of 16 sees Slovenian club NK Celje playing host to Swiss side Lugano. Who will come out on top in this matchup between Grofje and the Bianconeri? We’ve got the match prediction ready for you.
Celje had to pass through the knockout round play-off to advance to this stage. They did remarkably well to overcome experienced Cypriot side APOEL, advancing 4-2 on aggregate thanks to a 2-0 away victory as sizable underdogs in the second leg. This represents Celje’s best ever finish in a UEFA competition.
As for Lugano, they too will be looking to write a new chapter in their history books. An impressive showing in the league phase saw the Swiss side finish in the top eight and clinch their first ever last 16 appearance in a UEFA tournament. Both sides will feel that the quarter-final matchup against either Panathinaikos or Fiorentina is well within reach. Which side will come out on top?
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NK Celje vs FC Lugano Form
NK Celje and FC Lugano Last Matches
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
2 Mar 2025 - Prva Liga
26 Feb 2025 - Slovenia Cup
23 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
20 Feb 2025 - Conference League
16 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
13 Feb 2025 - Conference League
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
26 Feb 2025 - Slovenia Cup
23 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
13 Feb 2025 - Conference League
8 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
1 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
19 Dec 2024 - Conference League
2/6 (33%)
2/6 (33%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
2 Mar 2025 - Prva Liga
20 Feb 2025 - Conference League
16 Feb 2025 - Prva Liga
12 Dec 2024 - Conference League
1 Dec 2024 - Prva Liga
10 Nov 2024 - Prva Liga
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
4/6 (67%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
2 Mar 2025 - Super League
26 Feb 2025 - Schweizer Cup
23 Feb 2025 - Super League
15 Feb 2025 - Super League
8 Feb 2025 - Super League
5 Feb 2025 - Super League
2/6 (33%)
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
2 Mar 2025 - Super League
15 Feb 2025 - Super League
8 Feb 2025 - Super League
1 Feb 2025 - Super League
19 Jan 2025 - Super League
16 Jan 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
4/6 (67%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
26 Feb 2025 - Schweizer Cup
23 Feb 2025 - Super League
5 Feb 2025 - Super League
25 Jan 2025 - Super League
8 Jan 2025 - Clubs Friendlies
12 Dec 2024 - Conference League
NK Celje - FC Lugano: Form Analysis
Celje will come into this fixture off the back of a 2-0 away Prva Liga defeat to league-leaders Olimpija on the weekend. The loss means that the defending champions have now fallen 16 points off the top spot in the Slovenian top flight.
Celje were previously on a three-match winning streak across all competitions prior to the weekend’s match, with one of those fixtures a resounding 9-1 thumping of Kalcer Radomlje a week ago.
Celje have been finding the net at will on home soil in this competition, scoring 13 goals in four matches.
At the Stadion Z'dežele, Celje are on a three-game unbeaten streak with their last two ending in victories. The Slovenians have yet to lose at this ground in this competition, posting two wins and two draws in four matches.
Lugano couldn’t have picked a worse time to go on a cold streak ahead of this crucial round of 16 first leg. They suffered a heavy 3-0 home loss to Zurich in the Swiss Super League at the weekend which marked their third defeat in a row.
Going back a bit further, last season’s league runners-up have now only posted a single win in their last six across all competitions. The goals have also dried up with the visitors now having failed to find the net in their last three consecutive matches.
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NK Celje against FC Lugano Lineups: Starting 11
Formation : 4 - 3 - 3
Formation : 3 - 4 - 3
Substitutes
L. Kolar
DefenderD. Vuklisevic
M. Dulca
N. Kouter
C. Lhernault
ForwardEdmilson
A. Matko
D. Mina
S. Osigwe
DefenderM. Marques
A. El Wafi
Z. Brault-Guillard
MidfielderI. Maslarov
Y. Cimignani
D. Dos Santos
Y. Ryter
O. Doumbia
ForwardK. Przybylko
NK Celje & FC Lugano Squad Analysis
Celje manager Albert Riera only made two changes for the weekend’s loss to Olimpja from the starting 11 that faced off against APOEL in the second leg two weeks ago.
Given how impressive the team’s overall performance was in that second leg, Riera may wish to name the same starting 11 as that fixture. That means that winger Aljoša Matko could replace Egor Prutsev and center back Kleman Nemanič could be recalled in place of Artemijus Tutyškinas.
Kucys has netted five goals in this competition since the league phase and seven including qualifying.
All eyes will be on Celje striker Armandas Kucys, who is having an excellent 2024/25 campaign with the defending Slovenian champions. The 22-year-old has struck for 15 goals across 28 matches, including seven goals in six Conference League appearances.
Lugano will have to keep a close eye on the towering Kucys, whose prowess in the air has the potential to be a major thorn in the side of the Swiss. Kucys is among the top performers when it comes to aerial duels, winning an average of 4.88 per 90 minutes in the Conference League.
Center back Albian Hajdari will likely be the man called upon to keep close tabs on Kucys, which should make for an interesting battle.
Manager Mattia Croci-Torti has a few injury problems to worry about with four players potentially sidelined for the trip to Slovenia. The visitors could be without Martim Marques, Ignacio Aliseda, Uran Bislimi and Anto Grgic.
Most goals and assists
NK Celje
FC Lugano
A. Kucys
(6 Goals)
M. Mahmoud
(3 Goals)
S. Seslar
(8 Assists)
A. Grgic
(2 Assists)
,
U. Bislimi
(2 Assists)
, 
M. Zanotti
(2 Assists)
,
R. Steffen
(2 Assists)
NK Celje - FC Lugano Key Points
- All four of Celje’s home Conference League matches have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals.
- Celje home matches are averaging 4.25 total goals scored in the Conference League.
- Six of Celje’s eight Conference League matches so far have seen BTTS + over 2.5, including all four home matches.
- Lugano have seen BTTS + over 2.5 goals in two of their three Conference League away fixtures.
- Lugano's Conference League matches see an average of 3.00 total goals.
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Our NK Celje vs FC Lugano Prediction
This has the potential to be a high-scoring fixture. Leading the line for the hosts is an in-form striker who could cause real problems for the visitors. Additionally, Celje have seen no shortage of goals on their home field and have posted some very impressive results, such as their 5-1 thumping of Basaksehir.
Lugano impressed in the league phase and should be able to find the net at least once. We’ll back this one to finish at least 2-1 either way. Our NK Celje vs FC Lugano prediction: both teams to score + over 2.5 goals.
NK Celje vs FC Lugano Alternative Predictions
Amandas Kucys to score anytime
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
