European comeback against a seasoned favorite: prediction for Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Ludogorets
The first-leg clash of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Ludogorets will take place on July 23, 2026, at the Diósgyőri Stadium. The Israeli side will play their nominal home match on neutral ground, making their European return after a lengthy absence, while the Bulgarian outfit aims to take another step toward reaching the main stage of a European competition for the eleventh consecutive season.
Hapoel Tel Aviv: a rapid ascent from the second division back to Europe
At the end of the 2023/24 season, Hapoel dropped out of Israel's top flight but immediately bounced back, winning the Liga Leumit. In the very next campaign, Elianiv Barda's team finished fourth—its best result in the top tier since the 2013/14 season.
The Tel Aviv side is unbeaten in six straight matches, including four friendlies and a Toto Cup clash with Beitar. That match ended 2-2 in regular time, after which Hapoel prevailed in the penalty shootout. The effectiveness of Emmanuel Boateng remains in question, as he hasn't contributed to a goal in his last 12 official outings, while young Daniel Dappa is pushing for a starting spot after scoring in stoppage time.
Ludogorets: title streak broken, European ambitions intact
Last season, Ludogorets finished only third and, for the first time in 14 years, missed out on the Bulgarian championship. Thomas Reis' squad booked their Conference League ticket through the national playoffs, beating Lokomotiv Plovdiv on penalties after a goalless draw.
The new league campaign started with a 1-0 win over the same opponent, thanks to a goal from Ivaylo Chochev. Ludogorets is now undefeated in seven straight matches, and they haven't conceded in their last three official games. The main attacking hope for the visitors remains Kwadwo Duah, although the Swiss striker is also going through a lengthy dry spell.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Hapoel Tel Aviv are unbeaten in six consecutive matches across all competitions.
- Ludogorets have a seven-game unbeaten streak.
- The Bulgarian club has kept clean sheets in their last three official fixtures.
Cautious football to keep the intrigue alive: prediction for Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Ludogorets
Hapoel approaches their historic Conference League debut in high spirits, but playing their 'home' match on neutral turf robs the Israelis of their usual advantage. Barda's team has plenty of character, but lack of recent European experience could prove costly in decisive moments.
Ludogorets are clearly the more experienced and better-organized side, especially defensively, though their attacking play has lacked spark at the start of the season. In this first leg, both teams are unlikely to take excessive risks, making a cautious and evenly matched encounter the most probable scenario ahead of the return leg in Razgrad.
