Betting Tips
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad and Dutch giants Ajax meet at Huvepharma Arena for the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday evening.
Ajax, who placed third in the Eredivisie last year. Then entered Europa League qualification before Ludogrets, who was eliminated from Champions League qualifying earlier in the month.
Ludogorets vs Ajax
The hosts started their European season in the UEFA Champions League’s first qualifying round, but they were eliminated from the second round earlier this month. With a 6-3 victory over Astana on the road, they secured their place in the Europa League playoffs. They overcame a one-goal deficit from the first leg and won the home leg 5-1.
That was their second defeat in four games and their first scoreless game in five. In the past five games, they have kept two clean sheets. They reversed a string of three straight Europa League losses with a 5-1 victory over Astana in the most recent round. They have, however, performed admirably at home in this competition. They have four victories in their past five home Europa League games. Six of Ludogorets’ home games in this competition have resulted in one loss.
After placing third in the Eredivisie standings last year, Ajax is now in the playoffs. They won’t be participating in Champions League action for the first time since the 2017–18 season.
However, their recent run hasn’t been the finest going into this game. They started by defeating Heracles 4-1. However, they drew 2-2 with Excelsior in their most recent game. They scored early but fell behind 2-1 before Davy Klaassen’s equalizer in the final minute saved them.
Ajax has failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five competitive games. It is safe to conclude they aren’t at their best because their preseason run wasn’t inconsistent. Ajax has lost both of its last four Europa League games and has not won any of them.
Verdict
With losses at Olimpija and Balkani in the Champions League before a loss at Astana in the final round of this competition, Ludogorets’ away form has cost them in Europe this season.
They recovered against Astana, winning 5-1 at home, and now they’ll look to punish an Ajax team that drew 2-2 at Excelsior the previous weekend. Last year, Ludogorets qualified for the group stage of this competition by defeating Zalgiris at home in the qualifying round. They then defeated Roma and HJK in the group stage.
The hosts are unbeaten at home in eight games in all competitions and scored 18 goals in their five home games this season. Ajax has made at least two defensive mistakes in their previous four competitive outings, indicating that they are still working to improve.
De Godenzonen’s season has gotten off to a rough start, with just one victory in their first three games. If friendly matches are included, they have only won one of their previous five contests. The hosts should be able to deploy a formidable starting XI because they rested their finest players in their first league game on Sunday. We predict them to win by a slim margin in light of this and their home-field advantage.
Tip: Ludogorets Win or Draw / BTTS (YES)
Ludogorets Win or Draw – ❌
BTTS (Yes) – ✅
Bet Here > Bet9ja
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1X2 Market
- Slavia Praha v Zorya Bet9ja, Paripesa, 1xBet✅
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BTTS
- Dynamo Kyiv v Besiktas✅
- Fenerbahce v Twente Bet9ja, Paripesa, 1xBet✅
- Zalgiris v Ferencvaros Bet9ja, Paripesa, 1xBet❌
Over 2.5 goals
- Dinamo v Sparta Praha✅
- Olimpia v Qarabag Bet9ja, Paripesa, 1xBet❌
- Slovan v Aris Bet9ja, Paripesa, 1xBet✅
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
