TNS vs Ludogorets Predictions

TNS are set to see their European run brought to an end this week, as they face off with Ludogorets at the Racecourse Ground. These two met in Bulgaria a week ago, which saw Ludogorets run out 5-0 winners to put one foot in the next round. That’s put an end to their hopes of moving further in Europe, while the visitors are basically warming up for the next round in this clash. Can the Bulgarian outfit use their advantage in fitness and talent to secure another victory in this tie?

The hosts are on the back of a three-game losing streak going into their meeting with Ludogorets, with them having already crashed out of the Champions League this season. They were beaten home and away by Copenhagen in Europe’s premier competition, which has left the hosts facing their final shot at a European run this term. The first leg defeat makes the chances of them hanging around in this competition seem slim. Can TNS pull off a major upset by seeing off the favourites?

The visitors come into this game unbeaten in seven games across all competitions. Their early exit to Fenerbahce in the Champions League was a blow, but they are making progress in Europe’s second-tier competition. The visitors have been high-scoring across that spell, hitting 15 goals across those seven games. That run has put them top of their domestic division, while their extra minutes from playing league football so early can be seen as an advantage they hold over the hosts.

TNS have a torrid record in Europe, losing 18 of their 23 matches in this competition so far. They’ve lost five of their last seven in Europe, while their overall UEFA Cup/Europa League record has seen them concede over 50 goals while scoring just 15 in return. They’ve been consistently outclassed in matches in continental competition, which is something we’ve already seen this summer.

Ludogorets come into this clash having won their last two games to nil, racking up six goals over the course of the doubleheader. Meanwhile, an 8-0 aggregate defeat for TNS in their last three European games has left them struggling for form. We expect them to come up short against Ludogorets once again, with the visitors likely to show their quality here. That has us backing them with a -1 Asian Handicap for Thursday’s second leg.