Целе claimed a 2:0 victory over Ararat-Armenia in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on 11 August 2026, putting their European campaign firmly on track. The hosts held firm against a side that had beaten them 2:1 away from home just seven days earlier, and here's the thing — this time they made it count.
The breakthrough came late. Y. Dukuly found the net in the 83rd minute to break the deadlock, and B. Verbic added a second two minutes later, closing the game out with authority. By then the visitors had already been reduced to reacting rather than dictating, and the momentum had shifted decisively.
Discipline was tested throughout. A. Tera and H. Oliveira both received yellow cards in the 19th minute, while L. Koutris was cautioned in the 32nd. Substitutions began early, with Koutris withdrawn at half-time, and Tera following in the 55th. The visitors brought on both H. Oliveira and A. Serobyan in the 73rd minute, desperate for something to change the outcome.
The statistics told a familiar story. Both sides held 0.5 possession, but Целе registered 127 attacks to 85, and their 8 shots on target compared to 3 from the visitors showed where the danger lay. The hosts won the aerial battle, took 12 corners to 9, and let nothing slip once they took the lead.
For Ararat-Armenia the result offered little comfort. They had won four of their last five matches — victories over Banants, Gandzasar and both Shamrock Rovers fixtures — but this was a different challenge. Целе were out of sight by the final ten minutes, and the tie was decided in those two goals.