Ludogorets wants to catch up with Betis, who only need to tie to go through
Pellegrini assured that the best way to lose “is to go out and tie”
Ludogorets and Betis decide this Thursday in the Bulgarian fiefdom a duel with the leadership of Group C of the Europa League at stake in which the Verdiblancos, with ten points, need a single point to seal this privileged position that gives direct access to the round of 16 of the second European competition.
In the absence of this clash and the one next week against HJK Helsinki at Villamarín, those of the Chilean Manuel Pellegrini They will want to close their direct classification against Ludogorets, second in the group with seven points, to avoid added pressure at this stage of the competition in which there is also a lot at stake in the League, although as the coach maintains, the best way to lose is to “go out for a draw”.
Ludogorets host Betis on a roll after achieving their third win in a row against Botev Plovdiv (1-0) and thereby threatening CSKA Sofia’s lead in the Bulgarian League, which the Slovenian side Against Simundza, with a match still pending in the Bulgarian competitionwas located two points from the first place in the table.
The Bulgarians have already beaten José Mourinho’s Roma in their fiefdom and demonstrated their solvency based on a drawing similar to that of Betis supported by their Brazilians Rick, Igor Thiago and Cicinho, the Argentine striker Matías Tissera and the wingers Bernard Tekpetey and Kiril Despodov, doubt due to muscle problems.
Ludogorets would overtake Betis, who defeated them 3-2 at Villamarín, with a win by two goals or more, and will secure one of the top two spots in the group if they get a result better than Roma in Finland against HJK Helsinki.
Pellegrini’s men arrive in Razgrad after their defeat against Atlético de Madrid in the League (1-2), which has left the sensitive aftermath of the loss due to a muscle injury until after the World Cup in Qatar for the Italian-Brazilian center-back Luiz Felipe Ramosa strut in the axis of the Betic defense.
Forced by this low, that of the Mexican Andres Guardado due to suspensionthat of the Portuguese William Carvalho For personal reasons and due to the necessary rotations to face the calendar, the Santiago coach will make rotations that will begin with the goal, in which his compatriot Claudio Bravo will enter as the first man in a gear in which there will also be changes in all lines .
With Martín Montoya out on the right side, in which the Franco-Senegalese Youssouf Sabaly also ended up touched against the mattresses, this side will be occupied by the interior Aitor Ruibal, growing in his defensive contributions and increasingly used by Pellegrini for it.
With Juan Miranda on the left-hand side, the loss of Luiz Felipe leaves Pellegrini with three pure central defenders -Germán Pezzella, Víctor Ruiz and Édgar González- for the two posts of the rear axle.
In the midfield, the Franco-Ivorian Paul Akouokou will take the place of Argentine Guido Rodríguez and would be accompanied by Sergio Canales, absent last Sunday in the League due to suspension and who would delay his position to cover the loss of the Portuguese William Carvalho.
In the line of three midfielders, the options go through the captain Joaquín Sánchez, whom Pellegrini usually uses in European duels due to hierarchy and contributions, the Brazilian Luiz Henrique, Rodri Sánchez and the Frenchman Nabil Fekir, with a specific plan to start point after individual muscle injuries.
After the twenty minutes he had against Atlético de Madrid, Fekir I could count on more against Ludogorets with all the precautions to avoid relapses, since Pellegrini has advanced that, “although it is not for ninety, it will increase the number of minutes”.
Likely lineups:
Ludogorets: padt; Cicinho, Verdon, Nedyalkov, Witry; Pedro Naressi, Piotrowski, Thiago, Rick, Tekpetey and Nonato.
Betty: Claudio Bravo; Aitor Ruibal, Pezzella, Victor Ruiz, Miranda; Paul, Channels; Rodri, Joaquin, Luiz Henrique; and William Jose.
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria).
Stadium: Ludogorets Arena.
Schedule: 18.45.