Finnish champions HJK Helsinki welcome Bulgarian top-flight winners Ludogorets Razgrad to the Bolt Arena for their Europa League encounter on Thursday.
While the visitors have claimed three points from their opening two fixtures in Group C, the hosts are yet to pick up a single point.
Match preview
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HJK Helsinki have experienced an inconsistent run of form in recent weeks, alternating between victory and defeat in each of their last seven matches.
Klubi bounced back from a 3-1 away defeat against FC Honka with a 3-0 victory at home against Inter Turku last weekend, with Anthony Olusanya scoring a brace before Bojan Radulovic sealed the win with a late penalty.
Toni Koskela's side are on the verge of securing their third successive Veikkausliiga as they currently sit five points clear at the summit with just two games remaining.
HJK will now briefly turn their attention to Europa League action where they are seeking to claim their first points in Group C after losing their opening two matches against Roma and Real Betis by an aggregate score of 5-0.
The Finnish outfit have only lost three of their last 16 home matches across all competitions since the beginning of May, so they will fancy their chances of success in front of their own fans on Thursday.
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After securing a memorable 2-1 home victory against Roma in their opening Europa League game in September, Ludogorets have since won only one of their last four fixtures across all tournaments.
The Eagles – who are seeking to claim their 12th successive Bulgarian First League title – have dropped four points from their last two league games and have subsequently slipped three points behind the summit, albeit with two games in hand.
Ante Simundza saw his side's nine-game unbeaten start in the top flight come to an end last weekend, as they were beaten 1-0 by Lokomotiv Sofia in a game which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.
While Ludogorets are sure to have one eye on next Monday's clash with second-placed CSKA Sofia, the Eagles will now be focused on Thursday's encounter with HJK, which will be their first against Finnish opposition in European competition.
Ludogorets have struggled on the road in the Europa League in recent seasons, failing to win any of their last eight away games since a 2-0 victory in Georgia against Dinamo Tbilisi in October 2020.
However, victory against HJK on Thursday could see them consolidate second place in Group C if Real Betis manage to avoid defeat against Roma.
Team News
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HJK will be without star striker Roope Riski due to a knee injury, while captain Miro Tenho is suspended after being shown a straight red card in just the 14th minute against Roma last time out.
Malik Abubakari is set to join Radulovic up front in the absence of Riski, while former Barnsley defender Aapo Halme could replace Tenho in the back three.
As for Ludogorets, midfielders Claude Goncalves and Dominik Yankov are both ruled out with respective back and knee injuries.
Bernard Tekpetey, Cauly and Kiril Despodov could all retain their place in attack, supporting central striker Thiago, although Rick will be pushing to start after scoring off the bench in the 3-2 defeat against Real Betis.
HJK Helsinki possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Peltola, Hoskonen, Halme; Soiri, Lingman, Vaananen, Boujellab, Browne; Radulovic, Abubakari
Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:
Sluga; Fonn Wirty, Verdon, Nedyalkov, Cicinho; Piotrowski, Cafumana; Tekpetey, Cauly, Despodov; Thiago
We say: HJK Helsinki 1-2 Ludogorets Razgrad
HJK will be regarded as slight underdogs heading into Thursday's fixture and the pressure is on them to claim maximum points for the first time in Group C.
Meanwhile, Ludogorets can boost their chances of advancing from the group with a victory here, and we can see them coming out on top, especially if they produce a similar performance in Finland as they did in their victory over Roma.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
