From League to Europa League. After failing to get past a draw on Sunday against Betis in San Mamés, with a first half full of football and chances, Athletic changed gears to look at the continental competition. The lions visit Ludogorets tomorrow on the fourth day of the League Phase. What qualities does this unknown Bulgarian team have? The first thing that stands out when looking at its numbers in the 2024-25 season is the high level it offers in its League and its poor record when participating in Europe. The Croatian rulers Igor Jovicevic They are outstanding leaders of their country’s top division with 37 points, nine more than the second and third place teams, Levski Sofia and Botev Plovdiv respectively.
The Razgrad city team has won twelve of the thirteen games it has played, seven of them at home, CSKA Sofia (1-0), Arda Kardzhali (5-1), Levski Sofia (1-0), Lokomotiv Sofia ( 2- 0), Lokomotiv Plovdiv (1-0), CSKA 1948 Sofia (3-0) and Hebar Pazardzhik (3-0), and five away, Beroe (0-1), Levski Krumovgrad (0-3), Slavia Sofia (0-1), Botev Vratsa (0-2) and Septemvri Sofia (0-2). They received only one draw, with Cherno More Varna at the Huvepharma Arena, where the match will be held tomorrow starting at 6:45 pm in Bilbao.
The Bulgarians have played 25 games in this campaign, with a record of 18 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. They won two qualifying rounds in the Champions League against Dinamo Batumi and Dinamo Minsk, but fell in the third round against Azerbaijan’s Qarabag after conceding a resounding defeat in the second leg played on their home field (2-7). The lions’ rivals crashed out of the Europa League, where they had to play a qualifying round to qualify for the group stage. Petrocub Hincesti of Moldova was the victim (1-2 and 4-0), but since then their involvement in the old continent has been complicated. So they have only one draw in three games played, one against Czech Republic’s Viktoria Plzen, the rivals Valverde’s side will also face on the final day in San Mamés on January 30.
The other two matches counted as defeats: 0-2 against Slavia Prague, which the Bilbao lions beat in a superb game by the Czechs, and 2-0 against Anderlecht in Belgium. They are yet to score in this league. They have also played a Cup tie against Chernolomets 1919 (6-0).
Ludogorets stands out for its scoring ability within its borders. They scored 25 goals to be the most successful team, and got only one, ahead of the second in this section, Botev Plovdiv (6). His top scorer is the Brazilian striker Rwan Secowith six goals, five in the regularity tournament and one in the Europa League preview. The goal is highly distributed. As many as 19 footballers have found the net this season.
Athletic has a good chance to make a big step to be among the eight best and qualify directly for the round of 16, without playing the obligatory play off round for those classified between ninth and twenty-fourth place. If they win tomorrow, they will have ten points out of a possible twelve. To do this, you have to overcome a rival with two different faces.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
