- History: Ludogorets Razgrad have won one of the last three head-to-head meetings against CSKA Sofia and are generally the stronger of the two sides in the efbet League.
- Recent cup meeting: PFC CSKA Sofia came from behind to beat Ludogorets 2-1 in the Cup last month and then held Ludogorets to a 0-0 home draw to progress on aggregate.
- Form: Ludogorets have been rocked by CSKA’s Cup win and are also coming off two disappointing results in the top four league phase.
Title rivals prepare for tense standoff
Standings and significance
Ludogorets Razgrad are currently top of the Championship Group on 60 points, while PFC CSKA Sofia are close on 56, setting the scene for a crucial clash in the title race on Sunday.
Playing styles
PFC Ludogorets are the more positive and possession-based side, Per-Mathias Høgmo’s team preferring to play at a fast tempo, press aggressively and push their wide players forward in order to win the ball back high up the pitch.
CSKA are much more pragmatic and direct, preferring to be solid and well-organised in a low block with disciplined midfield lines that are adept at switching play and hitting teams on the counter. In Hristo Yanev’s side, they have a manager to execute this plan as they lack some of the possession players and ‘number tens’ that Høgmo wants to deploy.
Key player
Petar Stanić has been in such scintillating form that his name is already being mentioned in connection with some of Europe’s biggest clubs after his heroics in the Europa League. He is the key man in Ludogorets’ side, used to play their pressing, counter-attacking game with his clever runs and precise passes from deep.
Ludogorets lack belief after Cup exit to CSKA
Stanić can drive at defenders and his penetration and passing can be as strong as that of the striker when the ball is on the right side of him. He is the type of player who can get a goal when Ludogorets are in trouble, so watch out for him on Sunday.
The visitors are the favorites at 2.52 on the away odds, but CSKA are 2.71 for the win. That’s far too close for such an evenly-matched game with so much at stake. Ludogorets have been capable of putting teams away, but they have dropped some points in the recent top-four phase, so backing the Under 2.5 goals at 1.69 looks safer.
The two teams have played out some tense and tight games recently, with Ludogorets running out 3-0 winners in the March league match and beating Spartak Varna 5-1 in April, while they were then unable to avoid a 1-0 defeat at Arda and drew 0-0 at home to Cherno More.
Sofia’s cup upset adds to the drama
Meanwhile, CSKA Sofia have won only one of their last five games but that was a 2-1 away win at Ludogorets in the Bulgarian Cup, which put the pressure on their hosts for this league clash. CSKA also lost to Levski 3-1 at home in a league derby and were then involved in a 0-0 home draw in the second-leg of their Cup semi-final to squeeze through on away goals.
The atmosphere should be tense in the capital, which is no place to be if you are the favorite - and that is Ludogorets in this game.
Ludogorets’ pressing style and CSKA’s pragmatic, compact structure should lead to a close, cagey clash that could go either way, but the draw and 1-1 or 1-0 home and away wins seem the most likely outcomes with the weather in Sofia likely to be cool, cloudy and ideal for a soccer game.
- The hosts have the firepower of Santiago Godoy, who has been a reliable source of goals all season long, but they will need some magic from Leandro Godoy, who scored in CSKA’s Cup comeback.
- Kwadwo Duah has been a threat for Ludogorets against CSKA, scoring goals in their last two meetings, and Rwan Cruz, a regular penalty-taker, is a doubt after picking up an injury in the Cup tie, which could be decided by a set-piece or a moment of magic.
- Ioannis Pittas was brought on and his late strike helped seal CSKA's Cup victory at Ludogorets.
