Preview: Ludogorets Razgrad vs HNK Rijeka - prediction, team news, lineups

With everything to play for in this Champions League second round qualifier, Ludogorets Razgrad will welcome HNK Rijeka to Huvepharama Arena on Wednesday.

The Eagles will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins this week, while Rijecki Bijeli will be aiming to end a losing run in the qualifying rounds.

Match preview

Rui Mota's Ludogorets reached the Europa League's league phase in 2024-25, and they will be looking to reach UEFA's premier competition this time around.

On their way to the second qualifying round, the Eagles beat Dinamo Minsk 3-2 on aggregate, winning 1-0 in the home leg and drawing 2-2 in dramatic fashion in the return fixture.

In the first leg of this tie, Rui Mota's men drew 0-0, and while some may be frustrated by the fact that they failed to convert any of their nine attempts, the manager will be pleased to go into the home clash on even terms.

Knowing that even the narrowest of victories would take them into the next round, the hosts will draw confidence from earning wins in consecutive games on their own turf.

Additionally, Ludogorets fans will be cautiously optimistic having seen their team keep two clean sheets on the bounce at Huvepharma Arena, scoring six goals in the process.

Meanwhile, Radomir Dalovic's Rijeka last made the league phase or group stage of any UEFA competition back in 2020-21 when they qualified for the Europa League.

In the seasons since, Rijecki Bijeli have been eliminated in the playoff rounds, including most recently by Olimpija Ljubljana in a 6-1 aggregate tie in August 2024.

Last Tuesday, Dalovic's men were disappointed when they were unable to secure a lead at Stadion HNK Rijeka, and it is notable that they were caught offside six times compared to their opponents' one.

Dreaming of a place in the Champions League, fans of the visitors will be concerned that their team have only won one of their last six away games, drawing one and losing the other four.

However, Rijeka could take heart from the fact that they have lost just two of their last nine matches overall, a stretch going back to May.

Ludogorets Razgrad Champions League form:

Ludogorets Razgrad form (all competitions):

HNK Rijeka Champions League form:

HNK Rijeka form (all competitions):

Team News

Ludogorets are likely to start with a strike partnership of Erick Marcus and Yves Erick Bile in midweek, and the duo should be supported by wing-backs Caio Vidal and Son.

In the backline, Mota should line up with a trio of Olivier Verdon, Edvin Kurtulus and Anton Nedyalkov, protecting Hendrik Bonmann between the sticks.

As for Rijeka, Toni Fruk should start up top, flanked by Merveil Ndockyt and Luka Menalo, and backed up by a midfield three of Tiago Dantas, Niko Jankovic and Dejan Petrovic.

Further behind, full-backs Ante Orec and Mladen Devetak will provide overlapping runs, and the duo should start either side of centre-halves Ante Majstorovic and Stjepan Radeljic.

Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:

Bonmann; Son, Verdon, Kurtulus, Nedyalkov, Vidal; Tekpetey, Kaloc, Piotrowski; Marcus, Bile

HNK Rijeka possible starting lineup:

Zlomislic; Orec, Majstorovic, Radeljic, Devetak; Dantas, Jankovic, Petrovic; Ndockyt, Fruk, Menalo