On Thursday, at 18:00, Ludogorets Razgrad meets Torpedo Kutaisi in the second hand of the UEFA Europa League play-off. The tour was 1-0 for the Bulgarians, away, and Ludogorets must defend the fragile advantage in return when any goal becomes decisive.
The difference in quality between the two bands can not be questioned, and that was also clear in the tournament match. Ludogorets has dominated Bulgarian football for many years and started the new season well: 7 points in the last 3 games, goalless victories with Bistrita (2-0) and CSKA Sofia (1-0) and a white draw at Slavia Sofia . In the previous tour of the UEL, Ludogorets eliminated the Bosnian Zrinsjki, which did not threaten the supremacy of its favorites.
Torpedo Kutaisi had emotions to get into the play-off, even though in the preliminary round 3 he won home 5-2 in front of the Albanians in Kukesi. Kukesi then won 2-0 in the lead and needed just one goal to get the goal with the away goals! Torpedo did not have any emotions with Vikingur (7-0) in general, but this time it is due to a full-quality band that has many valuable international bets.
Ludogorets dominated the away game.
Ludogorets won the tour with Wanderson’s goal, succeeded just before the break (’45). The Bulgarian team did not miss Claudiu Keseru and Cosmin Moti, and the best players of the guests were Cicinho, Moti, Natanael, Dyakov and Marcelinho. Even if he played a 4-3-3 offensive system, Torpedo did not create great opportunities. The Georgians had their possession but only jumped 3 times on the gate and had only two corners (compared to Ludogorets’ eight). The Bulgarians played 14 times at the gate and could have won more clearly but were pleased in the second half to protect the advantage obtained before the break.
Ludogorets will play carefully the second hand and will not throw in the attack but will try to keep the danger away from the gate in order to give the Georgians the chance of the goal away. We are on a tactically dominated game of favorites, in which Torpedo will not be able to score.
PREDICTION: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.85
