D. Zagreb (Cro) vs Ludogorets (Bul) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2022-08-08 18:00.
The UEFA Europa League play-off stage awaits the loser of this tie between two clubs who were both involved in the last two group stages of UEFA’s second-tier tournament. Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb hold the upper hand in this UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round having won the first leg 2-1, though they face a Ludogorets Razgrad side that have had the opportunity to freshen up and devote all of their energy and focus into this game following a weekend postponement.
Victory is no unfamiliar feeling for the Croatians, who are standing tall at the top of the HNL despite a surprise weekend draw at Varazdin (1-1). That stalemate extended Zagreb’s unbeaten start to the new season to eight matches in all competitions (W6, D2) but despite having played seven games in 21 days, manager Ante Čačić will be revving up his tired squad for what he described publicly as their “game of the season”.
With defeat in the first leg, Ludogorets saw a run of seven consecutive wins at home come to an end and they now face the steep uphill task of winning overseas. It’s a feat Ludogorets have achieved just once from their last nine attempts in all continental competitions (D3, L5), leaving their hopes of a first UCL group stage appearance since 2016/17 seemingly hanging by a thread.
There are just four clubs globally who have faced off against Ludogorets manager Ante Simundza at least twice and have defeated him every time, so his history cannot be underestimated by the Croatians despite the poor recent travelling record of the Bulgarian visitors in the UCL (W1, D2, L2).
Players to watch: Currently three without a goal, only once since April 2021 has Dinamo forward Josip Drmić gone four consecutive matches without scoring. Meanwhile, both of Ludogorets’ Pieros Sotiriou’s goalscoring UCL appearances in 2022/23 saw him net the opener.
Hot stat: Seven of Dinamo’s last ten UEFA fixtures have seen the majority of goals recorded in the first half.