MX23RW : Friday, January 31 02:34:26| >> :600:152334:152334:
[monks data]
Ludogorets
Champions League | First Qualifying Round | 1st Leg
Jul 10, 2024 at 7pm UK
Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad)

Ludogorets
3 - 1
Dinamo Batumi

Tekpetey (13'), Rick (24'), Fonn Witry (72')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Mamuchashvili (62')
Santos (32'), Kharabadze (45+1'), Ghudushauri (85')

Preview: Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Dinamo Batumi - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Ludogorets Razgrad and Dinamo Batumi, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ludogorets Razgrad are set to face Dinamo Batumi at the Huvepharma Arena on Wednesday in the first of their two-legged showdown in the first round of Champions League qualifying.

The hosts have qualified for the Champions League group stage on two occasions, while the visitors lost in the first round of their only previous attempt at qualifying for the competition.


Match preview

Ludogorets Razgrad coach Georgi Dermendzhiev before the match on February 15, 2024© Reuters

The 2014-15 season saw Ludogorets become just the second Bulgarian side team to enter the Champions League group stages and just two years later, in 2016-17, they became the first Bulgarian team to qualify for the group stage on two occasions, both times under the management of Georgi Dermendzhiev.

Following the unprecedented 7-1 defeat to FC Nordsjaelland in the Europa Conference League, the biggest loss in Europe in the club's history, which led to the resignation of the entire management and sports technical staff, the legendary manager Dermendzhiev returned to the club in October 2023.

Dermendzhiev managed to successfully guide the team to their 13th consecutive Bulgarian league title and will now be looking to create further history with the team by securing qualification to the Champions League group stage for the third time.

Ludogorets's fantastic league record, combined with them not losing in the first round of Champions League qualifying since a 5-3 aggregate defeat to Ferencvaros Torna Club in 2019-20, will give them plenty of confidence heading into this match against a side who have never won a game in the competition.

Dinamo Batumi have only competed in the qualifying rounds once before for the Champions League, falling to a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Slovan Bratislava in the first round in 2022-23.

A second league title in 2023, their second in three years, has earned them a spot back in the qualifying rounds for Europe's elite competition and manager Andrei Demchenko will be aiming to create history by taking a Georgian side to the Champions League group stage for the first time.

Demchenko's men are coming into this game on the back of just two wins in their last nine matches across all competitions and have been rather disappointing in the first half of the Erovnuli Liga, where they sit fourth and already eight points behind the league leaders.

As Dinamo Batumi's league season is already underway, whilst Ludogorets have not played a competitive match since May, they will be hoping their side are much better prepared for this one.

Ludogorets Razgrad form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Dinamo Batumi form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W


Team News

Jakub Piotrowski and Kwadwo Duah were both involved in their respective national sides' European Championship campaigns and are not expected to feature here.

Having not played a competitive match since late May, Dermendzhiev should have a fully fit and fresh squad to choose his eleven from.

A first win in four matches last time out for Dinamo Batumi could see Demchenko opt to name the same team in this one, although substitute Bubacarr Tambedou is likely to come into the side for Honore Gomis after coming off the bench to score twice in that game.

Ricardo Silva has joined the side on a free transfer since that last victory and the keeper could make his debut in this game, replacing current starting goalkeeper Luka Kharatishvili, who has conceded 10 goals in the last four outings.


Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:
Padt; Witry, Sundberg, Verdon, Nedyalkov; Chochev, Naressi; Rick, Nedelev, Vidal; Cruz

Dinamo Batumi possible starting lineup:
R. Silva; Mali, Kobakhidze, Kharabadze, W. Silva; Alef; Gudushauri, Mamuchashvili, Victor, Tambedou; Kutalia


SM words green background

We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 Dinamo Batumi

While Dinamo Batumi's side should be more match fit with their opponents not playing a competitive match in over a month, the hosts have far more experience competing at this level and we expect Ludogorets to get over the line with a victory here.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




ID:547718:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7656:
Written by
Ellis Stevens

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Ludogorets vs Dinamo Batumi

Ludogorets Razgrad
84.2%
Draw
7.9%
Dinamo Batumi
7.9%
38
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 26, 2024
Read Next:
Switzerland Euro 2024 squad: Who makes the cut? Which stars have missed out?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool870121
QInter Milan861119
QBarcelona861119
QArsenal861119
QAtletico860218
QB. Leverkusen851216
QAston Villa851216
QLille851216
9Real Madrid850315
10AC Milan850315
11Atalanta843115
12Dortmund850315
13Bayern850315
14PSV842214
15Benfica841313
16Feyenoord841313
17PSG841313
18Monaco841313
19Brest841313
20Juventus833212
21Celtic833212
22Man City832311
23Sporting Lisbon832311
24Brugge832311
25Dinamo Zagreb832311
26Stuttgart831410
27Shakhtar82157
28Bologna81346
29Red Star82066
30Sturm Graz82066
31Sparta Prague81164
32RB Leipzig81073
33Girona81073
34Salzburg81073
35Slovan Bratislava80080
36Young Boys80080


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!