MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 19:48:43| >> :600:18676065:18676065:
[monks data]
Ludogorets
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Basel

1-0

Minev (91')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 Basel - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage of the Champions League Group B clash between Swiss side Basel and Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad.
2

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad scored in stoppage time to secure their first ever Champions League win against Basel this evening.

The Swiss side were reduced to 10 men inside the opening 20 minutes when Serey Die was shown a straight-red for a late challenge.

The visitors defended for much of the match, but could not keep out Yordan Minev's late effort from the edge of the box.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good evening! Basel will be hoping the cement their place in second place in Group B with a win over the Bulgarian side this evening. The hosts are still looking for their first points of the competition, but have been far from outplayed so far.

In his pre-match press conference, Ludogorets coach Georgi Dermendzhiev said: We don't have any problems, and that is very important. The players are all totally focused on the game now. These two matches against Basel will be totally different from last season's encounters. Basel may have some injury problems, but we are focused on our team. If we win on Wednesday, everything will be different for us in the group. If we lose, then it will be much harder. We must be wiser and show more intelligence in our game. Our main advantage is our team spirit."

Meanwhile, Basel coach Paulo Sousa told the media: "This is the moment of truth for both teams. We are focused on taking all three points, but Ludogorets will be tough opponents. We respect them a lot, and they showed what they can do in the games against Liverpool and Real Madrid. They deserved to take something from those two games. The two teams seem identical in style. Ludogorets are very good as a unit. But I expect a different approach from them. I expect them to be more attack-minded; they will play on the counterattack. They will leave more free space and I hope we will create chances and score goals."

The two clubs have just announced their teams for this evening's clash, so let's take a look at the sides...

LUDOGORETS STARTING XI: Stoyanov, Minev, Moti, Terziev, Caicara, Alexandrov, Espinho, Abalo, Dyakov, Marcelinho, Bezjak

BASEL STARTING XI: Baclik, Schar, Suchy, Aliki, Die, Frei, Elneny, Xhaka, Calla, Gonzalez, Embolo

LUDOGORETS SUBSTITUTES: Borjan, Aleksandrov, Angulo, Abel, Wanderson, Misidjan, Hamza

BASEL SUBSTITUTES: Vailati, Ajeti, Zuffi, Kakitani, Hamoudi, Gashi, Sio

Dani Abalo and Marcelinho are likely to be the main goal threats for the home side tonight. Both have already found the back of the net this evening, while Bezjak will also be keen to help out up front.

The big news for Basel is that they are without captain Marco Streller, who scored the winner in their victory over Liverpool last time out. The midfielder has not made the trip to Bulgaria after picking up a muscular problem in a league match against Young Boys at the weekend.

Gonzalez comes into the side to add some extra fire power up front in place of the injured captain, while Embolo and Xhaka will also be looking to test the hosts.

This will be the second time that these two sides have faced each other in the Champions League in just over a year. Basel faced Ludogorets in the final qualifying round for the group last season, knocking them out 6-2 on aggregate.

Late goals have cost the hosts against Liverpool and Real Madrid in their first two outings of the group stage. Meanwhile, Basel were thrashed by Real Madrid in the first match of the campaign, but bounced back with a narrow win against Brendan Rodgers's side last time out.

While Ludogorets generally play their home matches in Razgrad, this fixture is taking place at Natsionalen Stadion in Sofia over 400km from the club's home stadium as their ground does not meet UEFA's specifications.

The Bulgarian champions, who are looking to become the first club from their country to secure a point in the Champions League groups, have been struggling for form this season. They've won less than half of their 22 matches in all competitions this season, and have six points fewer in the league than at this time last season. However, they come into this match following a 3-1 win over FC Haskovo on Friday, during which Marcelinho became the side's record goal-scorer in the league.

Basel have not traveled well in recent weeks, following up their defeat to Real Madrid with losses to Grasshoopers and St Gallen in the Swiss league.

Breel Embolo will be an interesting player to watch for the visitors this evening. The 17-year-old made his debut in this competition in the defeat at the Bernabeu, and recently netted a hat-trick in the second round of the Swiss Cup.

If you want to follow the other match in Group B this evening, our live coverage of Real Madrid's trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool is underway, you can follow that clash here.

REFEREE WATCH! German official Deniz Aytekin takes charge of this evening's match in Bulgaria. He's refereed in the Champions League since 2011, and once famously abandoned a match in Germany because a mug of beer was thrown at one of his assistants!

PREDICTION! The players will be making their way out shortly, so let's make a prediction. Despite Basel's struggles on their travels recently, the Swiss champions must fancy their chances this evening. Ludogorets have shown that they are capable of causing an upset, so Basel will be wary of underestimating the hosts. I think Basel will take a 2-0 win this evening.

Despite the hosts playing quite a distance away from their home city this evening, there is a decent crowd at the national stadium. It's not a sell-out, but there should be plenty of support for the Bulgarian champions.

Levski Sofia, who play their home matches at this ground, are the only side from Bulgaria to play in the group stage of the Champions League before. Their campaign eight seasons ago ended in six defeats.

The players finally make their way into the tunnel and head onto the pitch ready for kickoff. The teams meet for a photo as part of UEFA's no to racism campaign ahead of kickoff.

KICKOFF! Basel the get match underway.

CHANCE! Ludogorets try to put their opponents under pressure straight away, winning a corner inside the opening 40 seconds. The initial threat is cleared, but it's played back in for Marcelinho, but his mis-hit is punched away by Vaclik. However, he was offside anyway, so it wouldn't have counted had he managed to beat the keeper.

CHANCE! Basel also go for goal early on as Breel Embolo picks up the ball 30 yards out and attempts an ambitious lob, but Stojanov is waiting for it, and makes a comfortable stop.

Fabien Frei quickly tries to set Embolo up for another shot, this time from inside the box, but Moti makes a decent block for the hosts to prevent the teenager from getting his shot away.

MArcelinho is brought down by Suchy while pressing inside the Basel half, giving the hosts a free kick. However, the forward goes for goal rather than trying to find one of his teammates, sending the ball straight behind for a Basel goal kick.

Serey Die makes his presence felt, wiping out Dyakov with a sliding challenge. The hosts try to press forward from the resulting free kick, eventually resulting in a shot for Marcelinho, but his looping strike deflects into the arms of Vaclik.

The visitors immediately try to get the ball back down the other end, with Embolo looking the main threat for the Swiss side again, but his shot is well held by Stoyanov.

Frei gets a rather stern talking to from the referee following a heavy challenge on Bezjack, but he escapes a yellow card. There have been a few rather physical challenges from the visitors so far, and it looks like the German official is losing his patience already.

CHANCE! The home side almost take the lead as Elneny gives away a free kick in the middle, leaving Espinho to launch the ball into the box for Marcelinho to head towards goal, but Vaclik makes a superb save to deny him.

RED CARD! Serey Die, who may have been lucky not to be shown a yellow for an earlier challenge is shown a straight red for a collision with Moti. He does catch the Ludogorets man with his studs, but he did seem to get the ball. It looks a harsh decision to me, given some of the fouls that have been allowed so far.

The hosts are on the attack now against the 10 men of Basel, with Aleksandrov trying to set up Marcelinho with a cross from the right, but it's turned behind for a corner before Frei heads it clear.

CHANCE! Marcelinho continues to test the Basel defenders as he curls a low drive towards goal, but it drifts just wide to leave the sides level.

PENALTY APPEAL! It's been an interesting start to the match for the referee. Gonzalez takes a tumble just inside the box after clashing with Minev, but the referee waves his appeals away, although the replays suggest that the defender did shove him in the back. Despite not awarding the penalty, the German official has not booked Gonzalez either for simulation.

BOOKING! Minev catches Embolo just outside the box, and this time the referee gives the free kick. He also booking the Ludogorets man, which means that he will miss the return leg in Switzerland next month. Calla lines up the free kick, but rather than going for an assist he wastes the chance with a hilariously-wide shot.

CHANCE! Basel have recovered well from Die's sending off and are starting to look dangerous. Gonzalez is played in with only Stoyanov to beat, but the Ludogorets keeper makes a superb save, while Calla's resulting corner is well cleared.

PENALTY APPEAL! The home side want a spot kick this time as pull-back from Bezjak appeals to catch Schar on the arm, but the assistant referee, who had the best view, doesn't give it, and the replays confirm that it came off his hip not his hand.

UPDATE! Basel fans will no doubt be pleased to hear that Real Madrid are already 2-0 up against Liverpool, who are considered the Swiss side's main rivals for second place in Group B.

CHANCE! Marcelinho has the ball in a threatening position again, but he takes to long to turn in the box, allowing Suchy to make the clearance for the visitors. Ludogorets wins a corner a few moments later, but Espinho fires wide.

Ludogorets are continuing to dominate possession, and have created some decent opportunities to take the lead, but since the sending off they've tried to rush things in the final third, resulting in some pretty sloppy finishing. It's like they're playing more for individual glory rather than working as a team at the moment.

Aleksandrov and Dyakov team up on the edge of the box as they try to set something up for the hosts, but Basel have time to get numbers back and ensured that they can't get the ball through to Marcelinho and Bezjak in front of goal.

Basel have certainly got the measure of the Ludogorets attack in the last 10 minutes or so. The visitors have bodies back to force the hosts to look for the perfect ball in, something which they're struggling to find. Despite being down to 10 men, you wouldn't rule out Basel at this stage.

BOOKING! Taurant Xhaka picks up a booking for catching Moti in the face with a trailing arm.

Dani Abala makes a brilliant run to the edge of the box, rounding several Basel players on the way, but his shot is blocked by Xhaka.

Embolo is on the counter-attack looking to catch the hosts out just before half time, but Moti makes a well-timed tackle to prevent the youngster having a shot.

BOOKING! It's a slightly heated final few moments in this half as Derils Gonzalez catches Abalo with his studs, earning himself a booking, although Sousa insists to the fourth official that it was a dive.

CHANCE! The hosts are within inches of the lead as Aleksandrov chests the free kick down to Marcelinho, but his finish is deflected just behind. What a frantic end to the first half!

HALF TIME: Lugogorets Razgrad 0-0 Basel

The referee blows the whistle to bring an end to a first half which saw lots of action but no goals between Ludogorets Razgrad and Basel in Sofia this evening.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the opening 45 minutes. As expected, the hosts had the majority share of the possession with 59%. Ludogorets had nine shots to Basel's six, but three of the visitors' efforts were on target, while Ludogorets tested Baclik just twice.

Despite being a man down, Basel should feel a little aggrieved not to be a goal up, after the referee chose not to award a penalty, despite Gonzalez clearly being pushed in the box just a few minutes after Die's dismissal.

Die's red card was also a rather controversial decision by the German official. He had let a few rather rash challenges go earlier on, but the midfielder's slightly late tackle seemed hardly worth a yellow let alone a sending off.

The players are making their way back out ready for the second half. Incidentally, in the other Group B match, Real Madrid opened up a 3-0 lead over Liverpool by half time at Anfield.

KICKOFF! The second half of the match is underway.

There's a worrying start to the half for both teams as Embolo and Dyakov accidentally clash heads while battling for a high ball. They both appear a little dazed by the incident, but should be fine to continue.

Basel have made a bright start to the second spell, with Gonzalez making a quick run down the right to give the visitors a throw in near the corner flag, but Embolo was unable to shake Moti in the box. Incidentally, both sides are unchanged following the restart.

CHANCE! Ludogorets get their first sight of the Basel goal in the second half and almost force an opening goal. Dani Abalo comes in from the right before trying to slice in from a tight angle, but Vaclik tips it just over the bar.

Ludogorets look much more dangerous going forward than they did at the end of the first half, they're working really well as a unit and have tons of pace to test the 10 men of Basel. Espinho pulls the ball in from out wide for Bezjak, but his shot goes wide.

CHANCE! Bezjak was relatively quiet in the first half, but he's been involved in everything since the restart. He works hard to keep the ball alive on the edge of the box before pulling it back for Espinho to hit it while rushing in, but Vaclik makes another good save.

CHANCE! Vaclik is really coming under pressure now as Ludogorets enjoy their best spell of the match so far. Once again it's Espinho who gets the shot away, but Vaclik gets down low to make the stop.

Marcelinho hasn't seen too much action in the second half, but he gets involved with a quick run down the left flank, but rather than looking for Espinho and Bezjak in the box, he takes the shot on himself, firing well high.

CHANCE! An Espinho shot is deflected into the path at Marcelinho, but he's unable to get his shot away for the home side.

Ludogorets continue to pile forward with Aleksandrov trying to cross the ball in for Espinho, but it was easily cleared by the visitors. It looks like both sides are starting to think about substitutes, with several players taking part in warmups on the sideline.

Tersiev comes out from the back to try and help force an opener for Ludogorets, but his through ball is too heavy, and goes straight behind for a goal kick.

BOOKING! Embolo goes in the book for a clash with Minev, which leaves the Ludogorets defending clutching his right foot.

SUB! The home side make the first change of the night, with Tunisian international Hamza Younes taking over from Roman Bezjak up front.

Junior Caicara thinks that he is through for a tap in from a couple of yards out, but the defender manages to miss the shot, and was about four or five yards offside.

Hamza makes his first contribution since coming off the bench, battling hard to send in a back heel for Abalo, but there was a fraction too much on the ball for the winger to reach.

After surviving something of an onslaught from Ludogorets in the opening 16 minutes of this first half, Basel seem to have tightened things up at the back in this second half, getting plenty of men back to prevent the hosts getting the ball through for Marcelinho. It looks like the Swiss side could be settling for a point.

SUB! Arlind Ajeti comes off the bench for the visitors, taking the place of Naser Aliji, who has been quiet this evening.

SUB! The home side make a change as well, taking off Dani Abalo for Virgil Misidjan.

Marcelinho gets forward again, attempting a drilled shot from just outside the box, but he doesn't get enough power on it, leaving Vaclik with a comfortable stop.

SUB! The hosts send on their top scorer this season, with Wanderson replacing Aleksandrov.

CHANCE! Hamza controls the ball superbly at the near post as he tries to get a shot away, but then rushes his finish, missing the target.

SUB! It's another swap for the visitors as Calla makes for for Mamoudi.

CHANCE! How many more opportunities are Ludogorets going to get?! The free kick is curled in for Hamza, but his header is straight at the keeper.

BOOKING! Basel captain Fabien Frei goes in the book for man-handling Wanderson in midfield, getting both hands around the winger's waist in a bid to halt his progress.

CHANCE! Misidjan sets up a chance for Wanderson, but the substitute doesn't get anywhere near enough power behind his finish, leaving Vaclik with another comfortable save.

BOOKING! Moti picks up a late booking after clashing with Hamoudi.

SUB! The visitors make their final change, bringing on Sio to help out in attack in place of Gonzalez. Could the visitors be looking to snatch a win late on?

CHANCE! Ludogorets have a free kick in a dangerous position. Espinho curls it in well, but Misidjan fires high from the left-hand side of the box.

Embolo wins a free kick in the final third for Basel to give them a chance for a late winner as the match heads into three minutes of stoppage time, but Moti is there to clear Elneny's set piece.

GOAL! Ludogorets 1-0 Basel (Yordan Minev)

Having dominated the second half, Ludogorets finally get the breakthrough as Yordan Minev brings the ball out from the back on a counter-attack, and curls it in perfectly from the edge of the box, finding the bottom left corner. That should be enough to give the team Bulgaria's first ever Champions League points.

BOOKINGS! It seems there's still time for a big of handbags as Schar picks up a booking for a challenge on the goal-scorer, while Espinho gets the caution for retaliating.

FULL TIME: Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 Basel

Ludogorets players and fans are delighted as the full-time whistle goals, confirming that the club has its first win in this competition thanks to a late goal from Yordan Minev, who has ended a five-year goal drought to secure the win.

The late goal will be a bitter blow for Basel, who could have increased their hold on second place in the group this evening, following Liverpool's defeat to Real Madrid. This result actually moves the Bulgarian champions up to second, given their superior goal difference, while Basel drop to the bottom.

That's all from this match tonight, but stick around to read match reports, reaction, player rating and plenty more from all of this evening's Champions League matches, and pop back tomorrow to following live coverage of the Europa League. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening, goodbye.

ID:184078: cacheID:184078:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:35495:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ludogorets Razgrad's midfielder Marcelinho celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match between Ludogorets Razgrad and Real Madrid at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia on October 1, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Ludogorets vs. Basel
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


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!