Ludogorets Razgrad will be keen to secure their spot in the playoffs when they host Qarabag in the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier on Tuesday evening.
With Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb awaiting the victor in the play-off round, Ludogorets hold a narrow advantage after last week's first leg, having claimed a 2-1 win at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
Brazilian winger Caio Vidal was the hero and villain of the first leg, scoring a late winner before being sent off for a second yellow card just minutes later. His goal came after Dinis Almeida's opener was canceled out by Qarabag's Brazilian forward Juninho.
With that said, both sides aim to reach the revamped Champions League group stage, where they would be guaranteed at least eight high-profile matches.
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are one step closer to their first Champions League group stage entry since the autumn of 2016, after securing a precious 2-1 victory in the first leg of their third qualifying round clash against Qarabag. A draw in Razgrad would be enough to see them through to the playoffs, but the Eagles will strive to leave nothing to chance, having won their previous home legs by two-goal margins in both previous qualifying rounds.
The hosts, who boast an impressive 13 consecutive Bulgarian top-flight titles - the longest active streak in Europe - are determined to break their recent Champions League qualifying curse, having fallen at this stage in six of the last seven seasons.
Under the guidance of Georgi Dermendzhiev, Ludogorets have shown solid results at home, winning their last five competitive matches, four of which were by at least two goals.
Ludogorets ended a six-match away losing streak in Champions League qualifying with that victory, giving them a crucial lead to defend at Huvepharma Arena. The Bulgarian champions have already overcome two knockout rounds to reach this stage, defeating Dinamo Batumi and Dinamo Minsk on their path.
Should they progress, a third Dinamo - Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb - will stand between them and the group stage. But first, the Eagles must navigate a challenging encounter against a seasoned Qarabag side.
Georgi Dermendzhiev's side have started their domestic campaign strongly, winning both of their First League matches, including a 5-0 thrashing of Arda, and were rested at the weekend to ensure they are fresh for this critical clash.
Despite the challenges in both domestic and European competitions, Ludogorets' consistency and experience allowed them to maintain their dominance in Bulgarian football.
As the Razgrad outfit aim to defend their first-leg lead, questions remain over the availability of first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Padt, who missed the trip to Baku last week. Summer signing Hendrik Bonnman could be called upon again, while Switzerland striker Kwadwo Duah, who scored at Euro 2024, is expected to lead the line for Ludogorets.
With Caio Vidal suspended and Tekpetey out for the foreseeable future, Rwan Seco and Spas Delev are in contention to start in attack, although the latter's absence due to a broken leg is a significant blow for the Bulgarian champions.
Of course, Dermendzhiev may well opt for a more conservative approach, which would see Son in a more advanced role on the flank and Norwegian Aslak Witry starting at right-back.
Like their Bulgarian counterparts, Qarabag are no strangers to success themselves, having clinched their 10th Azerbaijani Championship in 11 years last season. They entered the Champions League qualifiers in the second round, where they demolished Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps 7-0 on aggregate. Domestically, they've continued their strong form, netting seven goals in their opening two Azerbaijan Premier League matches.
Under the guidance of long-serving head coach Gurban Gurbanov, Qarabag enjoyed a commendable European campaign in the 2023-24 season. They started their journey in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, aiming to reach the group stage of Europe's premier club competition. However, they fell short in the second qualifying round - a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Rakow Cz?stochowa of Poland - and were subsequently relegated to the UEFA Europa League.
In the Europa League, Qarabag managed to qualify for the group stage for the third time in four seasons, where they performed admirably. They faced strong opposition in Bayer Leverkusen, BK Hacken and Molde but managed to secure important results, demonstrating their resilience and experience in UEFA competitions.
They advanced through the knockout stages, securing some notable results, especially the comeback win against Braga in the Knockout round play-offs, before eventually being eliminated by Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16. Their run in the Europa League added to their growing reputation as a competitive and consistent presence in European football.
All in all, Qarabag's last campaign was marked by some impressive performances across multiple competitions, reflecting their status as the most successful club in Azerbaijan nowadays and a formidable team on the continental stage.
Juninho, who has scored four goals in his last two Champions League qualifying games, will be the main threat upfront. He is likely to be supported by Yassine Benzia and captain Abdellah Zoubir. Montenegrin internationals Marko Vesovic and Marko Jankovic - two other pivotal figures - are expected to feature at right-back and in midfield respectively.
Despite trailing from the first leg, Qarabag's recent success and wealth of European experience, let alone their attacking prowess, could all prove decisive in Razgrad, where Ludogorets will be determined to avoid slipping into the Europa League.
Yet, the Horsemen will be disappointed with their late lapse in Baku, which denied them a 1-1 draw and a more favorable position before the trip to Bulgaria. However, Gurban Gurbanov's side quickly regained momentum with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kapaz PFK in their domestic league, making it two wins from two as they are favorites to defend their Azerbaijani Premier League title.
They'll need a more efficient attacking performance in Bulgaria, though, and they have the firepower to deliver, having scored 3 or more goals in three of their last four matches.
Scoring away from home has been a strong suit for Qarabag, who have found the net at least twice in 14 of their last 16 competitive away games (winning 12). This includes impressive outings in the Europa League earlier this year, where they defeated Braga 4-2 in Portugal and narrowly lost 3-2 to Bayer Leverkusen, with multiple second-half goals in both matches.
