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Ludogorets
Champions League | Third Qualifying Round | 2nd Leg
Aug 10, 2021 at 7pm UK
Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad)
Olympiacos

Ludogorets
2 - 2
Olympiacos

Semedo (49' og.), Soteriou (57' pen.)
Badji (27'), Despodov (44'), Verdon (66'), Dambrauskas (74')
FT
(aet)
M'Vila (31'), El-Arabi (68' pen.)
Ba (33'), Reabciuk (82')
Ba (86')
Ludogorets win 4-1 on penalties

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

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

Level at 1-1 from the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round contest, Ludogorets Razgrad and Olympiacos will lock horns in the second leg of the tie in Bulgaria on Tuesday night.

Ludogorets took the lead in the 50th minute of the reverse match through Kiril Despodov, only for Aguibou Camara to score an 87th-minute equaliser for Olympiacos at Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki.


Match preview

Ludogorets Razgrad's Kiril Despodov pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Ludogorets started this season's Champions League in the first qualifying round, beating Shakhtyor 1-0 home and away to advance to the next stage, where they locked horns with Mura.

The Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Mura in the first leg of their second qualifying round clash but recorded a 3-1 victory in the second leg at home to set up the clash with Olympiacos.

Valdas Dambrauskas's side competed in the group stage of last season's Europa League, losing all six of their fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, LASK and Royal Antwerp during a tough campaign.

Ludogorets finished third in the group stage of the 2016-17 Champions League, though, and therefore know what it takes to compete at this level of football, which should stand them in good stead if they manage to progress past Olympiacos and then win any potential playoff fixture.

The Bulgarian outfit have made a strong start to their domestic campaign, meanwhile, picking up six points from their two matches against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and CSKA 1948 Sofia to sit second in the division.

Olympiacos coach Pedro Martins in the Europa League on February 18, 2021© Reuters

Olympiacos, meanwhile, won their second successive league title last season, which saw them automatically qualify for the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Red-Whites recorded a 2-0 aggregate victory over Neftchi Baku to progress to the third qualifying round, and they have only had the Champions League to focus on this season, with their 2021-22 domestic campaign not beginning until August 20, when they will host Atromitos.

Whether or not the rest will help or hinder Olympiacos remains to be seen, but the fact that they have had a full week to prepare for this contest will surely be an advantage.

Pedro Martins's side competed in the group stage of last season's Champions League, while they reached the last-16 stage of the 2020-21 Europa League, losing to Arsenal over two legs.

Olympiacos will have been disappointed not to have picked up a first-leg advantage from the home fixture, but Camara's late equaliser off the bench could prove crucial in the second leg.

Ludogorets Razgrad Champions League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D

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

Olympiacos Champions League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D



Team News

Olympiacos' Youssef El-Arabi celebrates scoring against Arsenal in the Europa League on March 18, 2021© Reuters

Ludogorets have no injury or suspension issues ahead of the second leg, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see the same XI that impressed in the reverse fixture last week.

Despodov was on the scoresheet in the first leg and is a certainty to feature in the final third of the field, while Pieros Sotiriou and Bernard Tekpetey should also operate in a front three.

Alex Santana came off the bench in the 73rd minute of the reverse match but is unlikely to start here, with Cauly set to operate alongside Claude Goncalves and Stephane Badji in midfield.

As for Olympiacos, head coach Martins is expected to make at least a couple of changes to the side that took to the field from the first whistle last week.

Yann M'Vila replaced Pierre Malong at the interval of the first leg and that alteration could now occur before the match begins, while Thanasis Androutsos is pushing to replace Kenny Lala.

There are unlikely to be any changes in the final third of the field, though, with the experienced Mathieu Valbuena being joined by Koka and Giorgos Masouras.

Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Ikoko, Plastun, Verdon, Nedyalkov; Cauly, Badji, Goncalves; Tekpetey, Sotiriou, Despodov

Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Ba, Semedo, Cisse; Androutsos, Camara, M'Vila, Reabciuk; Valbuena, Koka, Masouras


SM words green background

We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 0-1 Olympiacos (Olympiacos 2-1 on aggregate)

This is a very, very difficult match to call for a number of reasons, and it would not be a surprise to see this contest go all the way to penalties. Olympiacos have only conceded once in their three Champions League games this term, though, and we fancy the Greek side to keep another clean sheet and ultimately progress courtesy of a one-goal win.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Olympiacos win with a probability of 56.37%. A draw had a probability of 22.8% and a win for Ludogorets Razgrad had a probability of 20.79%.

The most likely scoreline for a Olympiacos win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.66%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.88%) and 0-2 (9.73%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.82%), while for a Ludogorets Razgrad win it was 1-0 (5.93%).


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Data Failed

How you voted: Ludogorets vs Olympiacos

Ludogorets Razgrad
46.2%
Olympiacos
53.8%
78
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