The second leg of the Champions League second round qualifier between Ludogorets Razgrad and HNK Rijeka is set for Wednesday at Huvepharma Arena, and the home side is heavily favored. Ludogorets, after a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the first leg, will aim to secure their place in the next round. Their recent form at home is encouraging, boasting back-to-back victories with clean sheets and six goals scored across those matches. The Eagles' attacking prowess will likely rely on the forward pairing of Erick Marcus and Yves Erick Bile, supported by the dynamic wing-backs Caio Vidal and Son. Defensively, the three-man backline of Olivier Verdon, Edvin Kurtulus, and Anton Nedyalkov will look to protect goalkeeper Hendrik Bonmann.
Rijeka, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle. Their away form is a major concern, with only one win in their last six road games. While they’ve lost only two of their last nine overall, their recent 6-1 aggregate defeat to Olimpija Ljubljana in August highlights their struggles. The offensive burden will likely fall on Toni Fruk, supported by Merveil Ndockyt and Luka Menalo. The midfield trio of Tiago Dantas, Niko Jankovic, and Dejan Petrovic will be key to controlling the tempo. Ante Orec and Mladen Devetak will operate as full-backs, shielding center-halves Ante Majstorovic and Stjepan Radeljic.
Ludogorets’ impressive defensive record at home, coupled with Rijeka’s poor away form, makes a home win seem highly probable. The bookmakers agree, offering odds of 19/20 for a Ludogorets victory. This Champions League clash promises an exciting encounter, but the edge seems firmly with the Bulgarian champions.
