Celje fail to reach Champions League group stage as Martinez scores in 100th minute
Slovan’s extra-time goal from Martinez knocked Celje out and ensured no ex–SFRY club reaches this season’s Champions League group stage.
Celje missed a historic chance to reach the group stage of the Champions League after Slovan scored in extra time to turn the tie in their favour.
Late extra-time strike settles the tie
The first leg in Slovakia had ended 1:1, and after 90 minutes on Celje’s home ground the scoreboard again read 1:1. In the 100th minute Martinez found the net and Slovan completed a 1:2 victory that sent them into the Champions League proper.
The result means no club from the former SFRY will feature in this season’s Champions League, after Dinamo Zagreb were knocked out by Norwegian side Viking. Observers described it as a setback for the region, noting the influence of those who run the largest and most decorated clubs in these countries.
There will also be no player from our domestic leagues in the competition: Levski, featuring Nikola Serafimov, were eliminated by AEK earlier in the qualifiers.
A total of 36 teams have now qualified for the Champions League. The group-stage draw will be held tomorrow at 18:00 (August 27, 2026), when the full match schedule and opponents will be confirmed.
For Celje, the night ended in disappointment: a club chasing a first-ever appearance at this level fell short in the final moments of extra time.
Photo: press material from the event
