Celje (home)
- Celje have won both of their two home games in this competition, conceding just 1.00 goals per match on average.
- Celje’s recent results are patchy at best (W1, D1, L3).
- Albert Riera, who took over the reins at Celje in July 2024, has brought a possession-first, high-tempo approach to the team, as well as an aggressive pressing game and wide overloads that can break teams down early on.
- They’re rock solid at home and are blessed with a talisman in Franko Kovacevic, who’s scored five times in five games in this season’s UEFA Conference League.
Shelbourne (away)
- Joey O’Brien has kept much of the pragmatic approach installed by his predecessor Damien Duff, who built his teams around a compact low-to-mid block, with Shelbourne playing in a disciplined, organised fashion.
- However, Shelbourne have been truly dire in the Conference League this campaign, suffering heavy home defeats to Crystal Palace (0-3) and FC Drita Gjilan (0-1), as well as a 2-0 away defeat to AZ Alkmaar.
- With Shelbourne unlikely to get much of the ball against NK Celje, it’s probable that O’Brien’s team will have to absorb waves of pressure and hope to nick a goal on the counter.
- Having failed to score in their two away Conference League games, this looks unlikely.
Key Players
They’re rock solid at home and are blessed with a talisman in Franko Kovacevic , who’s scored five times in five games in this season’s UEFA Conference League.
Betting Insights
- Celje are listed at 1.31 and Shelbourne at 9.5.
- The hosts play a more pressing, more progressive style than most teams in this sphere and have a real attacking threat in Kovacevic.
- The Both Teams To Score: No market at 1.72 looks like a great value wager.
Prediction
- Hosts should have too much for the Irish visitors.
- Expect a Celje win and consider the Both Teams To Score: No market at 1.72.
