There are moments in football that justify the extended format, that remind you why extra time exists beyond mere necessity. Cristian Martinez provided one such moment on Tuesday evening, lifting Slovan Bratislava into the Champions League with a piece of skill that will be replayed long after the formalities of qualification are forgotten.

The Slovak champions edged past Slovenian side Celje 2-1 on the night — 3-2 on aggregate — in a play-off tie that required the additional thirty minutes to separate the two sides. It was Martinez who delivered the decisive intervention, producing a delicate, instinctive flick over the advancing goalkeeper that settled both the match and the tie in Slovan's favour.

A tie that went to the wire

Slovan arrived in Slovenia holding a slender advantage from the first leg, but Celje are not a side content to simply make up the numbers. The home side levelled the aggregate score during normal time, forcing a period of extra time that had a genuine edge to it. Both clubs understood what was at stake — a place in European football's most lucrative and prestigious club competition.

For Celje, it represented a remarkable run deep into European qualifying, one that will have done the Slovenian top flight considerable credit. Reaching the play-off stage of Champions League qualification is no small achievement for a club operating in a league of that size and resource.

For Slovan, however, the pressure was different. As the more established side with prior Champions League experience, failure to progress would have been a significant disappointment. Martinez, in the end, spared his club that particular reckoning.

What this means for Slovan

Slovan Bratislava's return to the Champions League proper will be welcomed by those who appreciate the competition's capacity to bring genuinely diverse clubs into the fold. Slovak football does not often occupy the spotlight at this level, and Slovan's presence in the league phase ensures at least some attention is directed eastward.

The club will know, of course, that participating in the group stage brings financial reward in spades — the sort of income that can meaningfully reshape a club's ambitions, both domestically and on the continent. Retaining and attracting players becomes considerably more straightforward when Champions League football is on offer.

Martinez's contribution will rightly take the headlines, but there is a broader story here about a club grinding through the qualifying rounds, absorbing pressure across two legs and finding a way through when it mattered most. That resilience is worth acknowledging alongside the individual brilliance that sealed proceedings.

The road ahead

The Champions League league phase draw will determine what lies in store for Slovan, and the market will almost certainly position them among the competition's outsiders. But stranger things have happened in Europe's premier club competition, and a side capable of producing moments of genuine quality — as Martinez demonstrated — is rarely without hope of springing a surprise or two along the way.

For now, the Slovak champions will simply enjoy the moment. Qualification achieved, extra time conquered, and one footballer's moment of inspiration ensuring that Bratislava will feature on the Champions League fixture list once more.

Frequently asked

How did Slovan Bratislava qualify for the Champions League?
Slovan Bratislava qualified by beating Slovenian side Celje 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League play-off round, with Cristian Martinez scoring a decisive extra-time goal in the second leg to seal the tie.
Who scored the winning goal for Slovan Bratislava against Celje?
Cristian Martinez scored the winning goal, producing an audacious flick over the goalkeeper in extra time to give Slovan Bratislava a 2-1 victory on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.
What is the Champions League play-off round?
The Champions League play-off round is a two-legged tie that takes place in pre-season qualifying, giving clubs that have not qualified automatically through their domestic league positions a final opportunity to reach the Champions League league phase.