Ludogorets Razgrad will welcome Shamrock Rovers to Bulgaria on Tuesday evening for the first leg of their second qualifying round contest in the Champions League.
The home side beat Sutjeska Niksic in the last round to advance to this stage, while League of Ireland Premier Division side Shamrock comfortably overcame Maltese outfit Hibernians.
Ludogorets comfortably dispatched Niksic in the first qualifying round of this season’s Champions League, winning the first leg 2-0 on home soil before recording a 1-0 victory in the second leg one week later.
The Eagles secured their spot in the first qualifying round of the Champions League courtesy of winning Bulgaria’s top flight for the 11th time last season, and they will be the favourites to advance from this two-legged affair with their League of Ireland Premier Division opponents.
Ludogorets operated in the group stage of the 2014-15 Champions League, taking on Real Madrid, Basel and Liverpool, while they also made the groups of the 2016-17 tournament.
Ante Simundza’s side lost to Malmo in the playoff round of last season’s Champions League before competing in the group stage of the Europa League, finishing fourth in Group F.
Ludogorets started their league season towards the start of the July, and they have beaten Septemvri Sofia and Lokomotiv Plovdiv in their opening two games to sit at the top of the division with six points.
Shamrock, meanwhile, beat Hibernians 3-0 in the first leg of their first qualifying contest on July 5 before playing out a goalless draw with the Maltese side on July 12 to advance to the next round.
Rovers are already 23 matches into their league season, collecting 51 points from their 23 matches to sit at the top of the division, nine points clear of second-placed Dundalk.
Stephen Bradley’s side are next in League of Ireland Premier Division action on July 22 against Drogheda United, with their two legs of this European contest taking place either side of the league encounter.
Shamrock, who have won their domestic title on 19 occasions, lost to Flora in the playoff round for last season’s Europa Conference League after overcoming Teuta in the third qualifying round.
The Hoops played in the group stage of the Europa League back in 2011-12, finishing fourth in a section which included English giants Tottenham Hotspur.
Ludogorets Razgrad Champions League form:
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Ludogorets Razgrad form (all competitions):
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Shamrock Rovers Champions League form:
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Shamrock Rovers form (all competitions):
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We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock must stay in the contest on Tuesday if they are to stand a chance of progressing to the next round of the competition. Ludogorets will fancy their chances of winning the first leg, but we are expecting it to be a close affair in Razgrad.