NK Publikum Celje produced a stunning away performance to thrash Lugano 5-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round first leg on August 8, 2025. This astonishing result at the Stadio di Cornaredo in Lugano puts the Slovenian side on the brink of a historic playoff round berth after a devastating display of attacking football. Celje took control early and never relented, scoring five times without reply against a shell-shocked Lugano side. The visitors' forward line was in ruthless form, capitalizing on defensive errors and showcasing clinical finishing. The match was effectively over by halftime, with Celje building an unassailable aggregate lead. This heavy defeat is a significant setback for Lugano's European ambitions, while for Celje it represents one of their greatest ever European results. The Lugano manager would have been left to criticize a catastrophic defensive performance, while the Celje coach hailed a perfect tactical execution from his team.