David Flower
Dailysports's expert
Ludogorets Razgrad
AZ Alkmaar
Bonus up to $130/€100
On Thursday, Ludogorets will host AZ Alkmaar in Bulgaria in a crucial Europa League group-stage encounter. We suggest a promising bet on the total goals market for this clash.
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Match Preview
Bulgarian side Ludogorets has faced significant struggles in this Europa League campaign. A 0-0 draw with Lazio in the previous round extended their winless streak to five matches (two draws and three losses). As a result, Ludogorets sits 33rd in the standings, three points away from the playoff zone.
Their primary issue lies in attack: the team has managed to score just one goal in five matches, the worst offensive record in the tournament. However, they recently found their scoring touch domestically, thrashing Botev Plovdiv 3-0 at home. Ludogorets remains the Bulgarian First League leaders with a commanding 10-point advantage.
AZ Alkmaar’s European journey has also been rocky. They drew 1-1 with Galatasaray in their last group match, breaking a streak of seven decisive Europa League games (three wins, four losses). Still, the Dutch side remains 19th with seven points, three behind the coveted top eight.
Defensive issues persist for AZ, having conceded in nine consecutive European fixtures. Additionally, away games have been a nightmare — they’ve lost their last five Europa League road matches. Over the weekend, AZ secured a crucial 2-1 home win over Ajax, placing them sixth in the Eredivisie standings.
Probable Lineups
- Ludogorets: Padt; Son, Almeida, Verdon, Vitri; Piotrowski, Seko, Naress; Rick, Dua, Vidal
- AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro; Wolf, Martins Indi, Penetra, Maikuma; Clasie, Koopmeiners, Van Bommel; Mijnans, Addai, Parrott
Match Facts & Head-to-Head
- Ludogorets is unbeaten in six matches across all competitions, winning four.
- AZ Alkmaar has avoided defeat in their last four outings (three wins, one draw).
- This will be the first-ever meeting between these sides in European competition.
Prediction
AZ Alkmaar boasts superior quality but struggles away from home in the Europa League. Considering both teams’ issues, we recommend betting on “Under 2.5 Goals” at odds of 1.98.
Bonus up to $130/€100
