Ludogorets vs Athletic Bilbao: A Crucial Europa League Encounter
The UEFA Europa League clash between Ludogorets and Athletic Bilbao on November 7th promises to be an exciting matchup, but it’s shaping up to be a challenging task for the Bulgarian side. Ludogorets have had a tough run in the tournament so far, managing just one point from their opening three fixtures. Unfortunately for them, this may be a continuation of their struggles as they face a confident Athletic Bilbao squad that has been performing admirably under the guidance of coach Ernesto Valverde.
Athletic Bilbao enters the game as clear favorites, having gone unbeaten in the Europa League this season. Their only dropped points came in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Roma, a result that underlines the Basque club’s resilience. Athletic are currently sitting third in the betting odds for the competition, alongside Lazio, with a price of 10/1 to win the tournament. The La Liga outfit is also in fine form domestically, with just one defeat in their last 11 matches across all competitions, a loss to Girona.
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For Ludogorets, things are looking bleak. After defeats to Anderlecht and Slavia Prague, the Bulgarians have yet to score a goal in the group stage, and their hopes of progressing look slim. While they did manage to hold Viktoria Plzen to a 0-0 draw on the road, it will take an extraordinary defensive performance to deny Athletic, especially with their attacking strength. Ludogorets’ recent record against Spanish teams does not offer much optimism either, as they have lost every encounter with La Liga sides in European competition, having been on the wrong side of heavy defeats to the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, and Real Betis.
Despite this, Ludogorets have some hope in their attacking ranks, with Brazilian forward Rick leading the charge. He has been in good form, having scored five goals already this season, and will be one of the key players to watch for the Bulgarian side. On the other hand, Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao is in excellent form, and his attacking contributions are expected to be pivotal in this match. Nico scored the decisive goal against Slavia Prague, and with his skill and pace, he could be a real threat to Ludogorets' defense.
Looking at the betting odds, Athletic Bilbao are priced as 5/6 favorites with Betano, while Ludogorets are the 31/10 outsiders. A draw is priced at 23/10, but with the Basque side in such strong form, it’s difficult to see Ludogorets getting much out of this encounter. Athletic’s dominance in possession and attack is expected to overwhelm Ludogorets, who will likely adopt a defensive approach to frustrate their opponents.
For those interested in betting, options such as backing Athletic Bilbao to cover a -1 corner handicap at 11/10, or betting on Nico Williams to score at 10/3, seem like worthwhile considerations. With Athletic Bilbao's strong form and Ludogorets' struggles, this match appears to be a challenging one for the Bulgarians. If Ludogorets can manage to replicate their defensive resilience from the draw against Viktoria Plzen, they might just have a slim chance of causing an upset. But with Athletic Bilbao riding high, the odds are stacked against them.
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