Ludogorets vs CSKA Moscow Predictions

CSKA Moscow are back in the Europa League, but can they kick off with a victory in Bulgaria? It’s nine years since they last featured in this competition at the group stage, having been regulars in the Champions League over the years. Now they will be hoping to make up for missing out on Europe’s top competition with a run in this one. However, how will they fare away in this tricky opener?

The hosts were put out of the Champions League in July, losing at the first hurdle in the top competition. However, they’ve managed to maintain their place at the summit of Bulgarian football for years, having not relinquished the title since first winning it in 2012. Following their perfect start to the new campaign, they are unlikely to slip off first place any time soon. With seven wins from seven behind them, they turn to Europe looking for progress.

Meanwhile, CSKA are sitting in third place in the Russian Premier League. They’ve had a middling campaign so far but there’s a chance for them in Europe. They won’t quite be able to match the highs of seeing off Real Madrid home and away, but at least the Russian giants could make it out of the group. They made the last eight of this competition in 2018, losing out to Arsenal in the last eight. Now the Russian side will expect to get a run going in the continent’s second tier trophy.

CSKA are certainly a dark horse for progress further down the line but right now they need to be wary. Ludogorets have lost just two of their last 11 home games in Europe, while they made the last 32 in 2018, while they are hoping to build on some high-scoring form from the qualifiers. The hosts scored 16 times in three rounds to get here, while they saw both teams score in both legs of their Champions League tie.

Ludogorets also saw both teams score in four of their six games at this stage last term, while they have found the net in seven of their last nine at home in Europe. Meanwhile, CSKA head into this one having scored in every game in their Champions League group last season. Both sides are more than capable of scoring goals in Europe, which has us backing both teams to score on Thursday night.

In addition to BTTS, we are also going for a 1-1 draw as the final score here. CSKA lost none of their group games the last time they made this stage, while Ludogorets failed to win any last season. We expect a close game, but neither side really jumps out at us for this one, which has promoted us to back them to share the spoils.