The UEFA Europa League second qualifying round first leg between NK Publikum Celje of Slovenia and AEK Larnaca of Cyprus ended in a 1-1 draw on July 25, 2025. The match, which kicked off at 02:00, was a closely fought contest that leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture in Cyprus. Celje, playing at home, would have hoped for a victory but found a resilient AEK Larnaca side difficult to break down. The home side likely scored first, but AEK Larnaca managed to find a crucial away goal to equalize, making them slight favorites progressing into the second leg. The result sets up a tense decider, with AEK Larnaca needing only a goalless draw at home to advance on the away goals rule. Both managers expressed that the tie remains completely open, promising an exciting second leg.