UEFA Europa Conference League Betting Preview: FC Nordsjaelland vs. Ludogorets Razgrad

December 14, 2023

Ludogorets Razgrad take on FC Nordsjaelland in a winner-takes-all clash in their final game of the Europa Conference League group stage.

Having suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat in the reverse game at the Right to Dream Park on October 5^th, Ludogorets Razgrad fought for their own right to dream and are now one game away from the knockout stages.

Both Ludogorets and FC Nordsjaelland are set for their last competitive game until February, when their domestic leagues resume after a winter break. Of course, at least one of them will also be able to extend its European campaign beyond the New Year.

The Bulgarian champions are yet to beat a Danish club in six games so far, with three draws and three defeats, scoring just three goals and conceding 11.

Ludogorets Razgrad Betting Preview (+140 at Everygame)

The Eagles will spend the winter break in second place in the Bulgarian First League table, three points behind shock leaders Cherno More Varna, yet with a game in hand.

Georgi Dermendzhiev's side claimed an important win over rivals CSKA Sofia on Sunday with a late goal from Spas Delev. It was once again a nervous, cagey affair that was interrupted a couple of times for extensive periods.

The Eagles welcome FC Nordsjaelland with 10 victories across their last 11 competitive games (losing only to Slavia Sofia - a shock home loss in a delayed match due to heavy snow in Razgrad last month).

Ludogorets Razgrad claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over Spartak Trnava at the Stadión Antona Malatinského two weeks ago, with a last-minute winner from substitute Matias Tissera.

The 2-1 victory in Slovakia was their 50^th win in European football and first away win in a group game since the 3-0 Europa League success at Ferencvaros in October 2019.

Georgi Dermendzhiev was re-appointed as Ludogorets Razgrad head coach this autumn as Ivaylo Petev was dismissed after some inconsistent results and the awful October evening in Farum in particular. As mentioned above, Ludogorets suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat on their trip to Denmark this autumn - their heaviest defeat ever.

The Ludogorets head coach must deal with a selection headache as a host of first-team players are ruled out for various reasons.

Captain Anton Nedyalkov is set for another spell on the sidelines as the Bulgarian defender underwent surgery on a herniated disc in his back to join goalkeeper Simon Sluga in a injury list that already includes the long-term absentees centre-back Dinis Almeida, as well as the two left-backs Denny Gropper and Marcel Heister.

Brazilian winger Caio Vidal is suspended, while his fellow compatriot Rick Jhonatan is ineligible for the European games.

Furthermore, the likes of Aslak Fonn Witry, Ivan Yordanov, Todor Nedelev and Bernard Tekpetey are all doubts for Thursday night's crucial clash.

With Nedyalkov ruled out and Witry set for a late fitness test, Georgi Dermendzhiev could be forced to resemble a patched-up defensive rearguard.

Rwan Seco has been out of favor in recent weeks as fellow summer signing Kwadwo Duah recovered from an injury to become Ludogorets' first-choice centre-forward.

FC Nordsjaelland Betting Preview (+175 at Everygame)

Having won just one of their last five domestic league matches, The Tigers are fifth in the Danish Championship table, level on 27 points with Silkeborg in sixth and nine points off leaders FC Midtjylland. With their Superliga title chances looking slim ahead of the winter break, a first-ever European knockout phase appearance would still provide some special excitement for their supporters.

Meanwhile, FC Nordsjaelland wrapped up an 5-1 aggregate win over Akademisk BK in the Danish Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory last weekend.

The Tigers, however, are top of the table in Group H of the UEFA Europa Conference League. They started their group stage campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Fenerbahce in Istanbul but were merciless in the reverse game when they trashed the Turkish giants 6-1 at the Right to Dream Park a fortnight ago.

The Danish side are set for another trip to Eastern and Southeastern Europe as they already traveled to Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Slovakia earlier in their Europa Conference League campaign. They already eliminated FCSB of Romania and Partizan Belgrade of Serbia in the qualifying rounds, keeping a clean sheet in each of their matches against them.

Johannes Thorup's side came off another formidable result in the Europa Conference League as they are now on a four-game unbeaten run in the competition. With 17 goals scored in five group stage matches, The Tigers are the most prolific side of all teams ahead of this matchday.

First-choice goalkeeper Andreas Hansen and his backup Carljohan Eriksson are both injured for the Danish side, meaning that youngster Andreas Gülstorff should start in goal. The two injuries led to the short-term appointment of Dutch veteran Robbin Ruiter, who joined FC Nordsjaelland earlier this month.

Elsewhere, wingers Oliver Antman and Mads Hansen are also sidelined for Johannes Thorup's selection plans.

Introduced as a half-time substitute against Fenerbahce, Benjamin Nygren bagged a hat-trick to take his tally to five goals in four Conference League group games. The Sweden U21 international also scored a brace in the 7-1 home win over Ludogorets Razgrad in October.

Up front, Denmark U21 international Christian Rasmussen could get the nod over his experienced counterpart Marcus Ingvartsen, who opened the scoring in the 7-1 victory over Ludogorets in October, but remained an unused substitute against Fenerbahce last time out.

Possible Starting Lineups of Ludogorets Razgrad and FC Nordsjaelland

Ludogorets Razgrad: Sergio Padt - Aslak Fonn Witry, Olivier Verdon, Noah Sonko Sundberg, Son - Pedro Naressi, Claude Goncalves - Bernard Tekpetey, Jakub Piotrowski, Spas Delev - Kwadwo Duah. (4-2-3-1)

FC Nordsjaelland: Andreas Gülstorff - Martin Frese, Kian Hansen, Adamo Nagalo, Lucas Hey - Jeppe Tverskov, Benjamin Nygren, Daniel Svensson - Andreas Schjelderup, Christian Rasmussen, Oliver Villadsen. (4-3-3)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction

With only one point separating the likes of FC Nordsjaelland, Ludogorets Razgrad and Fenerbahce in Group H of the UEFA Europa Conference League, matchday six is shaping up to be a cracker.

Now second, Ludogorets Razgrad can finish top with a victory over FC Nordsjaelland, although anything other than a win would leave their progression to the knockout rounds dependent on the result of Fenerbahce’s home match with Spartak Trnava.

Their home record in the competition is also perfect as in addition to the two wins over Fenerbahce and Spartak Trnava this campaign, Ludogorets have also claimed a 1-0 win over Anderlecht in the knockout round play-offs last season.

The Danish side simply need to avoid defeat to confirm a top-two spot here, although it’s a victory they’ll be aiming for and a direct slot to the round of 16. The side that finishes second will qualify for the knockout round play-offs.

Spooky Express Free Play: Ludogorets Razgrad +140 at Everygame for 5/10 Units

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