Egnatia and Celje Share Spoils in Thrilling Champions League Qualifier

The Albanian hosts came out of the blocks with real intent at the Loro Boriçi Stadium, and their early pressure paid immediate dividends. Ergys Bitri broke the deadlock in the seventh minute to give Egnatia the perfect start. The visitors from Slovenia looked rattled in the opening stages, though both sides would prove willing to engage in an open, attacking contest as the first half unfolded.

Celje found their rhythm as the half wore on and levelled matters just before the interval when Matej Kvesić fired past the Egnatia defence to make it 1-1 at the break. The momentum had shifted noticeably, and the Slovenian club carried that into the second period. Andraž Kučys edged them ahead in the 54th minute, putting Celje in the driving seat. Ernani Sota was booked for Egnatia as tempers began to fray, but the hosts refused to surrender. Filipe Medeiros restored parity in the 58th minute, and the match swung back in favour of the home side. Kvesić struck again in the 66th minute to make it 3-2 to Celje, only for neither team to find another breakthrough in a breathless finale.

The final score of 3-3 means both sides head into the return leg with everything still to decide. Egnatia will feel they threw away what looked like a winning position, while Celje will rue not holding on to their advantage after going 3-2 up. This was a wildly entertaining affair that could have gone either way, and the second meeting between these teams promises to be equally compelling.