Preview: Ludogorets Razgrad vs. HJK Helsinki – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League match between Ludogorets Razgrad and HJK Helsinki, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
They are still trying to claim the first Europa League victory this season, just crowned the champion of Finland’s top division HJK Helsinki travel to Bulgaria to meet Ludogorets Razgrad Thursday evening.
The visitors sit at the bottom of Group C at the midway point after playing to a 1-1 draw with second-placed Ludogorets last week.
Match preview
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Ludogorets ended a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions when they secured a vital 2-1 win at home to Bulgarian top flight title challengers CSKA Sofia on Monday.
Matias Tissera followed up his goal in the 1-1 draw with HJK with another strike against Sofia, and Jakub Piotrowski then sealed the victory in the 79th minute, helping the Eagles move to within a point of league leaders CSKA 1948 with two games in hand.
Ante SimundzaThe team’s squad will now focus back on the Europa League, where they are in a strong position to progress to the play-offs for the first time in three seasons after picking up four points from their first three games, including an impressive 2-1 home win. beat Roma on the first matchday.
Indeed, victory for Ludogorets over the Italian giants is one of two wins in their last 17 Europa League games, and securing maximum points on Thursday would lead to back-to-back home games in the competition for the first time.
A win against HJK would also help cement second place in Group C, and they could move to within four points of third-placed Roma – Simundza’s side in their final group game – should the Serie A outfit lose to Real Betis.
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HJK followed up their draw against Ludogorets with a tight 1-0 league win away to Haka on Sunday to claim their 32nd Veikkausliiga title.
Toni KoskelaThe team got their hands on the trophy with a game to spare and can now focus on the three remaining Europa League games as they look to progress from the group stage for the first time in European competition.
HJK head into Thursday’s match having lost all four of their Europa League away games, including a 3-0 loss away to Roma this season.
The Finns are three points clear of second-placed Ludogorets in Group C second and know that defeat against their Bulgarian counterparts would end their hopes of progressing to the play-offs.
Ludogorets Razgrad Europa League format:
Ludogorets Razgrad format (all competitions):
HJK Helsinki European League format:
HJK Helsinki format (all competitions):
Team news
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Ludogorets midfielders Dominik Jankov and Claude Goncalves both sidelined with respective knee and back injuries.
Having scored in each of his last two games, Tissera could continue as a center forward before Thiagowith Kirill Despodov, Cauly and Bernard Tekpetey provide support in attack.
Former Luton Town goalkeeper Simon Sluga is set to exit between the sticks in front Sergio PattMeanwhile Manuel Cafumana could replace Nonato in midfield.
As for HJK, star striker Roope Risk and defender Valtteri Moren both are ruled out with knee injuries, but the captain Miro Tenho is available after a one-match ban last week.
Tenho is set up next to the back three Arttu Hoskonen and Jukka Raitalawith Matti Peltola as a result of falling to the bench.
Midfielder Perparim Hetemaj – who scored the equalizer in last week’s draw with Ludogorets – and right Full Back Try Soiri could also go back to the first XI at the expense Anthony Olusanya and Nassim BoujelabKoskela continues in the 3-4-3 formation.
Possible starting lineup for Ludogorets Razgrad:
Slug; Fonn Wirty, Verdon, Nedyalkov, Cicinho; Piotrowski, Cafumana; Tekpetey, Cauly, Despodov; Tissera
HJK Helsinki possible starting line-up:
Wrong; Hoskonen, Tenho, Halme; Soiri, Hetemaj, Lingman, Vaananen, Browne; Hostikka, Abubakari
We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 HJK Helsinki
The sides had to share the spoils in last week’s contest, and another tight affair is expected on Thursday.
HJK will be hoping that their weekend title win can spur them on to a positive result in Bulgaria, but we could see Ludogorets edge out their Finnish counterparts on home soil to boost their hopes of reaching the play-offs.
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Top tip
Our expert tip partner at Sportita.com predict under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and more of their proven football tips.Below 3.5:data