Bayer Leverkusen vs. NK Celje preview: Team news & predicted lineups | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen begin their European campaign on Wednesday as they welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje to the BayArena in their 2026/27 Europa League opener at 21:00 CEST.

Die Werkself have made a mixed beginning to the season under new head coach Carles Martinez, with a 4-0 DFB-Pokal win over Wehen followed by a shocking 3-2 Bundesliga defeat to newly-promoted SV Elversberg, a 4-0 victory over Union Berlin and, most recently, a 2-2 draw with Augsburg.

Martinez's troops will now look to make a positive start to their European campaign against a Celje side in free fall. 

After crashing out of Champions League qualifying to Slovan Bratislava, the Slovenian champions have won one and lost three of their league games. 

Most recently, a 2-1 defeat to Bravo resulted in head coach Vitor Campelos being sacked just six months after taking charge.

Zoran Zeljkovic has arrived from fellow Slovenian side FC Koper as his successor and will take charge of his first game on Wednesday at the BayArena in what will be the first-ever meeting between Bayer Leverkusen and Celje.

Team news and predicted lineups:

Bayer Leverkusen are sweating over the fitness of key attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza, who missed Tuesday's training session due to an infection. Kennet Eichhorn, Monrell Culbreath and Nathan Tella will miss out due to injuries.

For the visitors, Jost Pisek remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear.

Click here to see our predicted Bayer Leverkusen vs. Celje lineups.