Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
It's likely that the meeting between Ludogorets and Midtjylland in the penultimate round of the Europa League group stage won't deliver a goal fest. The Bulgarians could see their hopes of reaching the playoffs dashed, while the Scandinavians still have the potential to break into the top eight, but they need to perform flawlessly in the final matches.
Ludogorets
Following the Europa League draw, few would have expected to see Ludogorets in a position granting a ticket to the Round of 16. They were handed an extremely tough schedule, failing to secure a single victory across six matches and scoring just three goals, marking a tournament low. Against AZ Alkmaar (2:2) in Razgrad, Ludogorets showed character in the second half, clawing back two goals, yet based on the chances created, they didn't merit a draw: 0.95 compared to 2.49 in xG.
Midtjylland
Midtjylland had decent prospects for reaching the Champions League's final stages during the summer and, by October, had cemented their position in the Europa League playoff zone with victories over Maccabi Haifa (2:0) and Union Berlin (1:0). Last week, the Danes held a friendly against Red Bull Salzburg (3:2), where Thomas Thomasberg utilised his entire roster, with Edward Chilufya coming off the bench to score twice. It's likely that from the outset, the Scandinavians will take control of the ball and attack more frequently.
Ludogorets vs Midtjylland Prediction
Since August 2020, Ludogorets and Midtjylland have faced each other three times, with the Bulgarians scoring only once (0:1, 1:1 and 0:0). The Danes, thanks to the versatility of their squad, should find it easier to earn points in Razgrad, while it might be time for the hosts to shift their focus to domestic competitions.
