Avdyli’s special match against Drita in the Conference League

Milot Avdyli will have a special match in the Conference League knockout phase play-offs. 

Avdyli is part of Slovenia’s Celje, and Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland, revealed that the team will play against Kosovo’s reigning champions. 

23-year-old Avdyli, who previously played for Kosovo’s youth teams, joined Celje last summer from Ukraine’s Vorskla Poltava. 

He played an important role in the autumn season, recording eight assists in 27 appearances. 

“I wanted to play against Drita in the league phase, and now my dream has come true. The match will be special for me because I will be playing against a club from my country. I have a few unfinished matters with Drita, as I faced this team twice when I was part of Trepça and lost both times,” Avdyli said with a laugh, the official Celje website reported on Friday. 

Avdyli developed as a footballer at the Kurda football school, and then played for Trepça ’89. From Trepça ’89 he moved to Aarau in Switzerland, and then to Vorskla Poltava. 

“I am sure it will be different this time. I know many Drita players, I have also followed their European matches and can say that this team has quality, but it is undoubtedly a team that can be beaten. A very good atmosphere awaits us in Pristina, but I think we will be able to adapt. It is good for us that we play the return match at our stadium, where we have fervent support. We have beaten AEK Athens and Legia Warsaw there in the Conference League league phase, and in general we have not lost at home in this competition. I believe we will advance,” Avdyli said to the official website of the Slovenian club.

Celje are leaders in Slovenia’s top-flight “Prva liga”. In first place, Celje have 43 points after 18 matches, 12 more than Koper and Maribor.

The first match between Drita and Celje will be played at the “Fadil Vokrri” stadium in Pristina on February 19. 

The return match will take place a week later at the “Z’dezhele” stadium.