Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Ludogorets Razgrad made a strong start by winning their opening match against Malmö (2:1), which is important given they now face Real Betis, the Europa Conference League finalists that season and among this year’s Europa League favourites, even on home soil.
Ludogorets Razgrad
Malmö have not been particularly solid at home: the meeting with Ludogorets Razgrad was their fourth in a row without a win. However, overall, Ludogorets are not in great form. Before the trip to Sweden, the team failed to beat two rivals for the top places in the Bulgarian First League, drawing with Lokomotiv Plovdiv (1:1) and Levski Sofia (0:0). In the group stage of last season’s Europa League, the club did not defeat any of their four opponents, from Slavia Prague (0:2) to Athletic Bilbao (1:2).
Real Betis
Real Betis did not win in the opening round, but only because Nottingham Forest, seventh in the English Premier League, boast higher-quality players. The visitors nearly won in Seville, but the hosts were rescued by one of the team’s leaders in the 85th minute. In last season’s Conference League campaign, the team were not especially convincing away from home, with two defeats and three draws in nine matches, but they scored in eight of those.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Real Betis Prediction
Even so, we think that the dropped points in the first round will spur Real Betis to take Ludogorets Razgrad seriously. The squad should take at least a point from Razgrad, and we should see goals.
