Ludogorets Razgrad v Ajax

Ludogorets vs Ajax Preview

Bulgarian hosts, Ludogorets, also have one final chance to make it into the group stage of a European competition this season when they play host to Dutch Eredivisie visitors, Ajax, when the two teams clash at the Huvepharma Arena in Thursday night's 1st leg tie of this Europa League play-off.

Ludogorets have posted some indifferent results of late in all competitions as the hosts have managed to pick up just five wins from their last 11 games overall, but having picked up four wins of these five in total on home soil at their Huvepharma Arena, this will give Ludogorets belief and confidence that they can produce a positive result in this 1st leg in Razgrad.

The hosts have also lost five of these 11 matches as well, although each of the five losses were incurred on their travels and the hosts had also previously featured in the early qualifying rounds of the Champions League too.

A 4-2 win on aggregate against Kosovan club Ballkani earned Ludogorets a tie against Slovenian outfit, Olimpija, but they were dealt a disappointing 3-2 loss on aggregate, thus ending their Champions League ambitions.

Nevertheless, a 6-3 win on aggregate in the previous round of the Europa League has seen Ludogorets head into this play-off stage.

Dutch side Ajax, enter this season's Europa League competition at the play-off stage with the visitors in fairly steady early season form having remained unbeaten in their opening two games of the new Eredivisie campaign.

Ajax have picked up four points from their opening two league matches thanks to a resounding 4-1 home win against Heracles on the opening day of the new Dutch top flight season which was followed by picking up a point in a 2-2 draw away from home at Excelsior, so the visitors will be quietly confident that they too can gain a decent result in this 1st leg tie on Thursday night.

Upon first glance, results away from home have been disastrous for Ajax as they have lost four of their last five games which have been in pre-season defeats at Twente, Anderlecht, Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund, but the calibre of opposition should also be taken into consideration.

On the Europa League front though, Ajax have also tended to struggle in previous campaigns as the Dutch visitors have managed to capture just two wins from their last 12 away ties in this competition, but the goals market appeals here especially as nine of Ajax's last 12 away ties have resulted in both teams scoring.

Ludogorets v Ajax Verdict

Both Ludogorets and Ajax will be confident that they can at least get on the scoresheet in this 1st leg tie at the Huvepharma Arena.

Therefore, our main bet will be Both Teams To Score Yes @ 1.57

Other side bets worth considering:

Ajax win @ 1.80

Correct score: Ajax 2-1 @ 9.00