Kosovan outfit KF Ballkani carry a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League qualifier against Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad.
Welcoming Ballkani to Huvepharma Arena on Wednesday, Ludogorets will need to take the game to their visitors in order to overcome the two-goal deficit.
Match preview
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Although both sides registered nine goal attempts during the first leg, Ludogorets Razgrad were unable to make the most of their opportunities, while KF Ballkani scored twice to take control of the contest.
Following Meriton Korenica's opener in first-half stoppage time, Qendrim Zyba doubled Ballkani's advantage in the 55th minute, while Ludogorets failed to find a response before the final whistle.
Three days later, Ludogorets begun their new domestic campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Krumovgrad, with the reigning Bulgarian champions – who lost just two of their 35 league outings last term – making the worst possible start to their title defence.
The Eagles ended the previous campaign with a 17-game unbeaten run across all competitions, clinching both the Bulgarian Cup and Bulgarian top-flight title in the process, but Ivaylo Petev's men have lost each of their first two matches this term.
Meanwhile, KF Ballkani became the first-ever Kosovan side to reach the group stages of a UEFA club competition when they qualified for the Europa Conference League last year.
Although the Gabriels finished four points adrift at the bottom of their group – recording one win, one draw and four losses against Sivasspor, CFR Cluj and Slavia Prague – they can take confidence from last season's achievements.
Thanks largely to an 11-game unbeaten streak, Ballkani secured the Kosovan top-flight title back in May, finishing the campaign with a record of 20 wins, 13 draws and three losses to edge out second-placed Drita by three points.
Suva Reka's side gave their fans plenty to cheer about last week, dominating the Bulgarian champions while scoring a couple of goals for good measure, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels on Wednesday.
Team News
Ludogorets Razgrad have a number of injury absentees at the moment, with Dinis Almeida and Denny Gropper sidelined due to ligament problems.
The hosts are also without captain Anton Nedyalkov as he continues to recover from surgery, meaning that new signing Marcel Heister will continue to operate at left-back.
Ludogorets have lost last season's top scorer Igor Thiago to Club Brugge, so Kiril Despodov, Matias Tissera and Caio Vidal are expected to make up the forward line in a 4-3-3 formation.
KF Ballkani will likely match Ludogorets' formation, with Qendrim Zyba, Edvin Kuc and Lindon Emerllahu lining up in midfield, while veteran goalkeeper Enea Kolici will retain his place between the sticks.
Twenty-one-year-old striker Albion Rrahmani netted 30 goals in 50 games across all competitions last season, while attacking right-back Armend Thaqi chipped in with six goals and 17 assists.
Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:
Padt; Witry, Plastun, Russo, Heister; Show, Goncalves, Nonato; Despodov, Tissera, Vidal
KF Ballkani possible starting lineup:
Kolici; Thaqi, Dellova, Jashanica, Trashi; Emerllahu, Kuc, Zyba; Korenica, Rrahmani, Gripshi
We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 2-2 KF Ballkani (KF Ballkani to win 4-2 on aggregate)
Buoyed by last week's triumph on home soil, Ballkani will be determined to complete the job on Wednesday, while Ludogorets have no choice but to go for broke.
We expect the second leg to be a chaotic affair as Ludogorets aim to overcome the two-goal deficit, but the hosts' approach will likely leave them exposed at the back.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Morris
