Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Lineups, Prediction, Betting Picks & Odds

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Game Preview

Bayer Leverkusen open their Europa League campaign at the BayArena on September 16, 2026, welcoming Slovenian champions NK Celje for a heavyweight-versus-newcomer matchup on Matchday 1 of the league phase.

Leverkusen are back in this competition for the first time since reaching the 2023/24 final. They arrive as heavy favorites, powered by Patrik Schick and a squad built to dominate territory at home.

Celje reach the Europa League league phase for the first time in club history after dropping into it from Champions League qualifying, where a 3-2 aggregate extra-time loss to Slovan Bratislava ended their run.

The stakes are lopsided but real. Leverkusen want a fast start on home soil, where their recent record in this competition is imposing, while Celje chase a statement result in unfamiliar territory.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Recent Results

Leverkusen have made a mixed domestic start, most recently rescuing a 2-2 tie at Augsburg thanks to an 89th-minute Schick strike after piling up 25 shots. Still, they have scored at least twice in each of their first four competitive games this season, with Schick netting in all four. At home in this competition, their record is formidable.

Celje arrive scratchy, sitting seventh in the Slovenian PrvaLiga with three wins, two ties and three defeats from eight games. They dropped out of Champions League qualifying against Slovan Bratislava, with Svit Sešlar their most dangerous attacker after three league goals and two more in qualifying. Their defense has leaked badly on the road.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

Bayer Leverkusen: Nathan Tella (Injured/out), Guéla Doué (Injured/out), Montrell Culbreath (Injured/out), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Injured/out), Jonas Hofmann (Ineligible), Victor Boniface (Ineligible), Tim Oermann (Ineligible), Kennet Eichhorn (Ineligible)

NK Celje: Andrej Kotnik (Suspended), Artemijus Tutyškinas (Suspended)

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are without Jonas Hofmann, Victor Boniface, Tim Oermann and Kennet Eichhorn through ineligibility, while Nathan Tella, Guéla Doué, Montrell Culbreath and Eliesse Ben Seghir are also unavailable. Mark Flekken should start in goal behind Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, Facundo Medina and Miguel Gutiérrez. Equi Fernández and Aleix García are expected to anchor midfield, with Malik Tillman further forward and Moussa Diaby and Ibrahim Maza flanking Schick, who has scored in all four competitive outings this season.

NK Celje

Celje are missing suspended pair Andrej Kotnik and Artemijus Tutyškinas but otherwise field a familiar structure. Žan-Luk Leban should continue in goal behind Pijus Širvys, Damjan Vuklišević, Darko Hrka and Leonardo Koutris. Mark Zabukovnik and Papa Daniel are expected to anchor midfield, with Sešlar ahead of them as their top attacking threat. Benjamin Verbič and Yaya Dukuly should support Blaž Kramer from wide, with Celje having scored in 13 straight competitive away games but conceding freely on the road.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Predicted Lineup

Bayer Leverkusen

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Flekken; Gutiérrez, Medina, Tapsoba, Quansah; García, Fernández; Maza, Tillman, Diaby; Schick

NK Celje

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Starting Lineup: Leban; Koútris, Hrka, Vuklisevic, Sirvys; Daniel, Zabukovnik; Dukuly, Seslar, Verbic; Kramer

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Key Stats & Game Facts

• Leverkusen have won their last nine home games in the Europa League, scoring 37 goals across that run.
• Leverkusen have lost only once in their last 16 Europa League group or league-phase games.
• Patrik Schick has scored in all four of Leverkusen's competitive games this season across all competitions.
• Moussa Diaby has 20 goal involvements in 28 Europa League games for Leverkusen.
• Celje have scored in 13 consecutive competitive away games but have gone seven away games without a clean sheet.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Prediction & Best Picks

Our Prediction

This is a clear home job. Our prediction is a comfortable Leverkusen win, with the numbers pointing to a 3-1 scoreline at the BayArena. Schick and a deep, quality attack should overwhelm a Celje side that concedes freely on the road, even if the visitors' away scoring streak gets them on the board.

Best Picks

Back Aleix García in the anytime goalscorer market for Bayer Leverkusen against NK Celje. In the Anytime Goalscorer market, García's central midfield role puts him in prime position to contribute when Leverkusen — projected at over three expected goals — pour forward. His set-piece involvement and edge-of-the-box shooting give him a genuine path to the scoresheet against a Celje defense that has struggled badly on the road.

Back Benjamin Verbič to be shown a card for NK Celje. In the To Be Shown A Card market, Verbič faces a long night tracking relentless wide pressure at the BayArena. Celje enter as heavy underdogs with just a 4.65% win probability, meaning Verbič will spend most of the game in defensive mode — exactly the workload that tends to earn a caution.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Same Game Parlay

This four-leg Same Game Parlay leans on the hosts: Leverkusen on the moneyline, Schick anytime scorer, No in Both Teams To Score, and Pijus Sirvys to be shown a card.

Leverkusen on the moneyline is the anchor. They are strong home favorites projected to control this from front to back against a visiting side out of their depth.

Schick anytime scorer fits the script. He has found the net in all four competitive games this season and leads the line against a Celje defense that leaks on the road.

No in Both Teams To Score reflects Leverkusen's organization at home. Keeping a limited Celje attack off the board is a live outcome given the gulf in quality.

Pijus Sirvys to be shown a card rounds it out. The defender faces persistent wide pressure all night, and that kind of workload tends to draw a caution.

Right now, this Same Game Parlay tops out at +1000 and can be found as short as +545 at other books. Shop the difference: on a $10 stake, that gap works out to $46 more in your pocket at the better price.

Get the sharpest combined price on your Same Game Parlay using Oddschecker's Same Game Parlay Comparison Tool.

Same Game Parlay odds correct at time of publishing.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Talking Points

Celje come into this game amid upheaval, having appointed Zoran Zeljkovic as head coach in September 2026 after a domestic defeat to NK Bravo. The bigger story is the mismatch in resources: Leverkusen boast far greater quality and depth, and their recent home Europa League record makes the BayArena a brutal place to launch a first-ever league-phase appearance. Celje's one card to play is their scoring streak away from home, but their leaky defense on the road is the flaw Schick and company should exploit. Expect the hosts to control territory, force the tempo and take the points, with the visitors' attacking consistency offering the only real hope of a consolation.

Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Predictions FAQs

When is the Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje Europa League game?

The Europa League game takes place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT.

Where is Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje being played?

The game will be played at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany.

Where can I watch Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje?

The game will be broadcast on networks including TNT Sport 3 HD, TNT Sport Extra, RTL, Sky Sport Austria, Sky Calcio, and Movistar Liga de Campeones.

What are the projected lineups for Bayer Leverkusen vs NK Celje?

Bayer Leverkusen are expected to start Flekken, Gutiérrez, Medina, Tapsoba, Quansah, García, Fernández, Maza, Tillman, Diaby, and Schick. NK Celje are projected to line up with Leban, Koútris, Hrka, Vuklisevic, Sirvys, Daniel, Zabukovnik, Dukuly, Seslar, Verbic, and Kramer.

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