- Hapoel Tel-Aviv have won three of their last 10 matches in all competitions (D2, L5).
- PFC Ludogorets Razgrad have won just two of their last 10 games in all competitions (D3, L5).
- Ludogorets have won one, drawn one and lost three of their five away matches in all competitions this season (W1, D1, L3).
Pragmatists in the driver’s seat
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad will feel that they have the edge in the second leg of this second qualifying-round tie in the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League and Thomas Reis' pragmatic European game plan should ensure that they do not take a backward step on Thursday.
The visitors have won just two, drawn three and lost five of their 10 games this season, so it is no surprise to see them come into the tie as slight favourites ahead of Hapoel Tel-Aviv, who have won only three of their 10.
Ludogorets, who are flexible from a 4-man back line, have shown a willingness to play with numbers behind the ball and look to create chances from wide areas when they get the ball back, which should suit them against Hapoel's 4-2-3-1 system.
Hapoel to hold firm
Elyaniv Barda's men, who use their two pivots and number ten to link the play and create chances on the flanks, are no world beaters but they should not be underestimated.
The hosts have won just three of their 10 matches this term, but they have shown enough to suggest they can nick a result in what should be a cagey fixture. Their recent three-game sequence has seen them lose 0-2 at home to Hapoel Beer-Sheva, get hammered 4-1 away by Maccabi Haifa FC and draw 1-1 at Beitar Jerusalem.
Ludogorets have not fared much better in their three most recent games, seeing out a 1-1 draw at home to PFC Levski Sofia, losing 0-1 away to FC CSKA 1948 and edging a 1-0 victory over PFC CSKA Sofia in Razgrad.
Expect a tense, tight game
Ludogorets are a better bet than the hosts, but the 2.47 price that they are available at is nothing to write home about, especially when you consider that Hapoel are 3.09 and the draw 3.1.
The home side are clearly the underdogs, but both teams to score at 1.95 is also a viable option in this spot, albeit the BTTS No at 1.75 option is more likely to click in a game where one of the teams may be more inclined to keep it tight and sharp.
It should be a tight game of chess rather than a shootout and the under 2.5 goals market at 1.57 looks a good fit for that scenario.
