Celje vs Shelbourne prediction: EUROPE: Conference League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-12-17 20:00.
[p]As the only team yet to score in this season’s UEFA Conference League league phase, already-eliminated Shelbourne will be looking to end that run in the final game of their campaign against a Celje side still gunning for a top-eight finish. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]After reaching the quarter-finals of last season’s Conference League, Celje will certainly believe that they can reach the knockout phase of the competition again this term, as they go into Thursday sitting 12th – just one point off the top eight and automatic progression to the last 16. The Slovenian outfit will be disappointed about their current situation though, having won their first three matches of the league phase campaign before suffering defeats against Sigma Olomouc and Rijeka. They’ll need a change in fortunes here if they’re to bridge the gap to the top eight, and a ten-match unbeaten home run (W7, D3) certainly suggests they’re capable.[/p]
[p]Shelbourne’s Conference League elimination was confirmed when they went down 3-0 to Crystal Palace last Thursday, with the Dubliners now playing solely for pride in their last match of 2025. Because their domestic season finished in early November, they’ve had plenty of time to stew over their European results as they look to avoid suffering four competitive defeats in a row for the first time since November 2020. The fact that the Reds have lost their last four games in continental competition without scoring hardly bodes well, although they can perhaps cling to the fact that they have won their last three away encounters in the League of Ireland Premier Division. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These two sides have never previously met. Celje have a positive record against Irish clubs (W3, L1), while Shelbourne have tasted defeat in both their matches against Slovenian opposition. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]The away side on the day have had a man sent off in Celje’s last three games.[/p]
[p]Celje have conceded exactly once in four of their last five games.[/p]
[p]Shelbourne haven’t conceded in both halves in any of their last 11 games. [/p]
[p]Shelbourne have received the first yellow card in their last four matches. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Ivica Vidović got Celje’s last Conference League goal, with six of his last seven strikes arriving before the hour mark. Harry Wood found the net the last time that Shelbourne scored in Europe against Linfield in qualifying for the competition back in August, registering a goal involvement and/or getting booked in seven of his 14 appearances since then.[/p]
[p]Celje defender Artemijus Tutyškinas is suspended after being sent off against Rijeka, while Shelbourne seemingly have no fresh absentees. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Shelbourne’s European struggles, betting on a Celje win to nil seems shrewd.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]