Ludogorets vs Viktoria Plzen Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Ludogorets have become regulars in the Champions League since their debut in the competition in the 2012/13 season. They only made it to the 2nd qualifying round that year, but the following season they got to the playoff stage before being eliminated by Basel. They did push on in the Europa League though, winning their group and making it to the last 16.

They followed this impressive season by making it to the Champions League group stages for the first time in 2014, but last season they couldn’t make it past the 2nd qualifying round.

Ludogorets did manage to make it past that stage this season though, beating Mladost Podgorica 5-0 on aggregate before knocking out Red Star Belgrade 6-4 on aggregate after extra time. Now they just have to get past Viktoria Plzen.

The hosts did incur a defeat at the weekend when Levski Sofia beat them 1-0, ending a six match unbeaten streak of which they had won five. But they are a formidable outfit at home, having only lost one of their last 18 competitive matches and with 14 wins to their name during this run. They have only lost three of their 13 home games in the Champions League as well, and one of those was against Real Madrid.

Viktoria Plzen are no amateurs when it comes to European competition though. They were knocked out at this stage last season but it was only a couple of seasons ago that they made the group stages, finishing 3rd in a group involving Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and CSKA Moscow. They went on to make it to the last 16 of the Europa League as well.

The visitors only entered the competition in the 3rd qualifying round, but they weren’t exactly convincing against a tough Qarabag side. They only got through on away goals after a disappointingly drab 1-1 aggregate score. Viktoria Plzen are unbeaten in their last 11 games though, so they might not be easy to break down.

Ludogorets have only kept two clean sheets in their last nine competitive home matches though, although they have found the net in all but one of them. Viktoria Plzen have scored in ten of their last 13 on the road as well,also conceding in eight of them. This makes odds of 1/1 for Both Teams to Score look a very good value bet, so that’s what I’m backing along with a 2-1 win for Ludogorets at 8/1 for my correct score prediction.