An evening that could help write the history of Slovenian club football: Celje, Olimpija, and Maribor tonight on the European stage

Todays will once again be important for Slovenian club football, as it is not very common for three clubs from the sunny side of the Alps to fight for advancement to the final qualifying round of European competitions. Maribor, Olimpija, and Celje will start paving their way to the final qualification phase at home. The reigning champions can afford one slip-up, while the eternal rivals will need to outplay their opponents in both matches; otherwise, their European journeys will come to an end.

Celje will start their third-round Europa League qualification match at 20:15, hosting the Irish club Shamrock Rovers. It has been a demanding week for the Styrians, as they first suffered a setback in the Champions League qualifiers and then lost to Mura. Moreover, Albert Riera has caused quite a stir with his announced cleanout, which is expected to significantly empty the locker room of the current Slovenian champion. It will undoubtedly be interesting to see if the emotions have settled enough in recent days for Celje to return to its old form of success.

At 19:00, the match of the third qualifying round of the Conference League between Olimpija and Šerif will begin in Stožice. The Moldovan giant has changed its coach before the match, appointing Mislav Karoglan, the former coach of Hajduk, to the bench. Victor Sanchez, meanwhile, is on a winning streak, currently with five consecutive victories. “We will definitely face a demanding team. I expect a tough match, but we are going for the win. It is important for us not to get tired of this winning feeling. We have analyzed the opponent and know what we need to do. We must create as many opportunities as possible, as this will be crucial for the victory. The goal is to keep a clean sheet at home. This would give us a nice advantage before the return match. I am sure that the opponent has similar plans. They have a good team, but we are ready. Throughout the game, we need to stay focused to effectively counter them,” said Olimpija midfielder Agustin Doffo before the match in Ljubljana.

In Maribor, the Ljudski vrt will come alive at 20:15, although it will be interesting a few hours earlier when Acun Ilicali will speak to the media. When the real action starts, Vojvodina will be on the other side, a team that is not easy but is beatable. “We know how important the first 90 minutes of this new European test will be. Our goal is to win; we want to secure the best possible position before the return match. I hope the stands will be as full as possible, that the fans will enjoy a good game, and that it will turn out in our favor,” said Maribor player Marko Božić before the clash with the team from New Sad.