VELENJE, Slovenia (Interstat) — NK Rudar Velenje under-19 faces Celje under-19 on Thursday in a 1. Mladinska Liga matchup, with the visitors arriving as the projected winner based on recent form and the teams’ most recent meeting.

The match, scheduled for May 21, 2026, at Rudar’s home venue, pits a Celje side looking to rebound from a close loss against a Rudar team seeking consistency.

Celje enters Thursday’s contest after a 2-1 defeat at home against Brinje Grosup on May 15. That result snapped a three-match unbeaten run for Celje, who had previously posted a 5-0 win over Krka on April 29 and a 4-2 victory at Brezice on April 24. The visitors have demonstrated offensive firepower this season, scoring four or more goals in six matches, including a 4-1 win over NK Fužinar Ravne on April 13 and a 4-1 victory at Domzale on Dec. 6. However, Celje also suffered a 1-0 loss at Ilir Ljubljana on May 11 and a 2-1 defeat at NK Zeleznicar Maribor on Feb. 21.

NK Rudar Velenje arrives after a 1-1 draw at Radomlje on May 18. That result followed a 6-1 loss at NK Aluminij on May 3. Rudar has struggled defensively this season, conceding five or more goals in three matches, including a 5-0 home loss to Koper on March 18 and a 6-1 defeat at Aluminij. The team’s only wins this campaign came against Mura (3-2 on April 27) and Krka (4-1 on March 1). Rudar has also recorded two scoreless draws: against Jadran Dekani on Dec. 7 and at Ilir Ljubljana on March 6.

The two teams last met Nov. 23, 2025, when Celje earned a 3-1 home victory over Rudar. That result extends Celje’s recent dominance in the series.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for Celje. Kickoff is set for Thursday.