Can the Bulgarians make a statement in the first leg?

Ludogorets Rasgrad from Bulgaria have managed to qualify for international competition several times in recent years. That has to be the goal this time as well, opponents Ljubljana should not stop the Bulgarians.

The Ludogorets Rasgrad vs. Ljubljana prediction by the bookmakers also indicates a clear favourite role for the home side in this first leg. Individually, the Bulgarians are superior, but there were not only positive results at the start of the season. For the guests, however, this is equally true.

Knockout matches always bring a special explosiveness, especially since both teams are still in the stage of development, just fresh out of the preparation and still looking for the rhythm. Given the omens, however, our Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Ljubljana tip is that the hosts will win.

Ludogorets Rasgrad – Statistics & current form

Ludogorets Rasgrad have always been a team that has qualified for the main round of the European Cup in recent years. The Bulgarians don’t have a bad team and are the figurehead of their national league. Not surprisingly, Ludogorets will start the new season as double winners. The team is coached by Ivaylo Petev, and at the weekend they won 5:0 against Etar in the domestic league.

In the summer, no big jumps were possible on the transfer market, nevertheless Kwadwo Duah was brought in from Nuremberg. He has already contributed two goals and is expected to play an important role. Together with the strong Bulgarian Despodov and the ex-Schalker Tekpetey, he should cause a sensation in the offensive.

But overall, the engine is still faltering in the new season. Petev’s team has lost two of its four competitive matches so far, both away from home. At home, their record is absolutely flawless with 9:0 goals and six points from two games. Moreover, the two defeats were the only ones the Bulgarians have suffered in the last 15 competitive matches this season, and their pre-season has also been absolutely decent.

Ludogorets Rasgrad will be looking to play the favourites

It could be a game in which the home side will dominate from the start and have more possession. The team already knows that from the league, so it shouldn’t be a problem. The Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Ljubljana odds also show that the hosts are the clear favourites.

In any case, the offensive will be the focus. It was already the showpiece in 2022/23 and was responsible for 72 goals in 30 league games. The team also played internationally in the previous season, finishing third in a Europa League group and eventually being eliminated in the Conference League against Anderlecht. Now the Champions League is the goal.

But Ludogorets’ players will still have a lot of work to do. Before the match between Ludogorets Razgrad and Ljubljana, our prediction is that the home side will win and put themselves in a good position for the second leg.

Ljubljana – Statistics & current form

Ljubljana is certainly the lesser known name in European football compared to the home side. Nevertheless, the team has ambitions as far as the new season is concerned. However, the dress rehearsal for the game in Bulgaria at Ludogorets promptly went down the drain, with Olimpija losing the season opener 2-1 at FC Koper in the domestic league. In any case, they have lost four of their last seven competitive matches.

In the first qualifying round, however, there were two wins against Valmiera, both with 2-1, which means that in all three competitive matches of the new season, both teams have scored when Ljubljana were in action. Individually, the visitors fall behind the Bulgarians, but the team still has one or two promising talents, especially in midfield. The team is young, with an average age of just 23, but it also has the problem that bigger leagues are calling quickly.

The Ludogorets Rasgrad vs. Ljubljana betting odds clearly show that the visitors are not only in the underdog role in the first leg, but in the entire round against the Bulgarians. A progression would therefore be a big surprise, but with a lot of passion and a good balance something can be possible.

Away, the visitors are clearly falling away

Ljubljana managed to win the double in Slovenia in 2022/23, just like the hosts in Bulgaria. The team was in first place for almost the entire season and was a force at home, scoring 2.44 points per game. Away from home, it was only 1.61, and they lost seven of their nine games there.

Away from home, therefore, the team falls off a little. That can be a problem, especially against an individually better opponent, because the Slovenians did not have the opportunity to invest heavily in the squad in the summer. And so the team of the new coach Joao Henriques must try to conceal the individual inferiority on the pitch. That will not be easy.

Since the home side has not started the season in a completely confident manner so far and the Slovenians have always scored in the new season, our value tip before the Ludogorets Rasgrad vs. Ljubljana match is that more than 2.5 goals will be scored.

Ludogorets Razgrad – Ljubljana Direct Comparison / H2H Record

Both teams meet for the first time in a direct duel.

Ludogorets Razgrad – Ljubljana Tip

Ludogorets Rasgrad will be hoping for a place in the UEFA Champions League and will be looking to solve the supposedly compulsory task of Ljubljana. The hosts are strong at home, but have also already lost two of their four competitive matches in the new season.

However, the visitors have lost four out of seven games this season. Therefore, before the Ludogorets Rasgrad vs. Ljubljana match, our tip is that the hosts will take the win.