Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Preview
Two goals down and playing at home — Ludogorets Razgrad find themselves in that uncomfortable position where a half-decent result is not going to cut it. Thursday evening at Huvepharma Arena needs to be something special if the Eagles are going to overturn the deficit Hapoel Tel Aviv built in Hungary last week. Two goals in 90 minutes is achievable for any side. Two goals without conceding, against a team that kept a clean sheet in the first leg, is a considerably taller order. That is the mountain Thomas Reis has to get his side up in just his fourth competitive match as gaffer at Razgrad.
The context around Ludogorets makes this tie feel even more loaded. A club that dominated Bulgarian football for over a decade, winning 14 consecutive league titles after their promotion in 2011, they ended last season 14 points off champions Levski Sofia in third place. The title run ended, the European campaign has started badly, and the fanbase will be watching very closely to see how this squad responds under pressure. On the positive side, they have hit the ground running domestically this month, back-to-back wins over Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Dunav Ruse with clean sheets in both. Momentum exists. The question is whether they can carry it into the occasion.
Hapoel Tel Aviv arrive in Bulgaria in a genuinely remarkable position for a club that was playing second-tier Israeli football as recently as 2025. Fourth in the Israeli Premier League last season, a TOTA Cup qualifier win over Beitar Jerusalem in July, and now a 2-0 first-leg lead in the Conference League. Elyaniv Barda’s side have taken to European football like they belong there, and with Ludogorets needing to push forward and leave space, the Red Demons could find this an even more comfortable night than anyone is predicting.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Form
Ludogorets head into this second leg with their domestic form looking sharp. The wins over Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Dunav Ruse, both with clean sheets, show the defensive unit can be disciplined when the level of opposition allows it. Winger Bernard Tekpetey was involved in both goals against Dunav Ruse on Monday and looks sharp heading into Thursday. The problem is that the first leg told a different story entirely. Against Hapoel, Ludogorets were well beaten, unable to find a way through and leaving their opponents with a two-goal cushion to protect. That is the version of this team that matters most heading into 90 minutes where they need a minimum of two goals.
Hapoel’s form is harder to assess in volume given the limited competitive action early in the season, but what they have done, they have done cleanly. The TOTA Cup qualifier victory over Beitar Jerusalem gave them momentum and confidence before heading into European competition, and then the first leg performance backed that up. Goals from Omri Altman and centre-back Chico, one either side of half-time, showed a team capable of both attacking threat and defensive organisation. Stav Turiel, who was last season’s top scorer for the club, provided an assist in that game and will be a key figure again on Thursday. The Red Demons are not in Bulgaria to park the bus — but they do not need to take unnecessary risks either, and their recent form suggests they know exactly how to manage a game.
The aggregate situation fundamentally changes what both teams need to do. Ludogorets have to throw bodies forward, which opens them up. Hapoel only need one away goal to make the task almost impossible for the home side. It sets up as a tie where the form lines suggest Hapoel can hold what they have, even if Ludogorets manage to get on the scoresheet early and make it a nervy last half hour.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Head to Head
These two clubs have not built up a rivalry across multiple meetings, and this is largely fresh ground for both sides. What we do know is that the only competitive encounter between them — last week’s first leg at Diosgyori Stadium in Hungary — went convincingly to Hapoel. The Red Demons defended solidly and punished Ludogorets on the counter, with Altman and Chico both getting on the scoresheet. There were no real signs in that performance that Ludogorets had the tools to dismantle a well-organised Hapoel defensive block, and that is the same challenge they face on home turf.
Ludogorets’ record at Huvepharma Arena in European competition is patchy rather than commanding, and the home advantage here counts for atmosphere more than it does for a significant tactical edge. Hapoel, for all their inexperience at this level — this is their first European campaign since 2014-15 — showed no signs of nerves in the first leg. A young club stepping back onto the continental stage and delivering a composed two-goal win is a significant indicator of mentality. Going to an unfamiliar ground in Bulgaria needing only to keep the scoreline respectable suits their profile well.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Lineups
Reis looks set to make changes after the first-leg defeat. Filip Kaloc and Alberto Salido both came off before the hour mark in Hungary and are at serious risk of dropping out of the starting XI entirely. In their place, the gaffer is expected to turn to club talisman Chochev and the in-form Tekpetey, both of whom started on the bench in the first leg. Kwadwo Duah, who has been a consistent contributor over the past three years but has come off the bench in the last two outings, is also knocking on the door and could get the nod through the middle. The expected lineup of Bonmann in goal, with a back four of Son, Kurtulus, Nedyalkov and Nogueira, sets up behind a midfield and attack built around Camara, Chochev, Tekpetey, Stanic and Cruz, with Duah leading the line.
Hapoel should be able to name a relatively settled XI. The clean sheet in the first leg means Barda has little incentive to tinker at the back, and the centre-back pairing of Chico and Fernand Mayembo should continue. Assaf Tzur, who won the Israeli Premier League Goalkeeper of the Season award last term, is the undisputed number one and will be key if Ludogorets do find a way through early. Turiel, Altman and the rest of the attacking unit that caused Ludogorets real problems last week are expected to start again, giving Hapoel continuity and confidence throughout the side.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Tactics
Ludogorets have to be expansive and they know it. Reis will set up with Tekpetey and the wide players asked to get forward quickly and early, trying to create chaos in behind Hapoel’s back line before the visitors settle into their defensive shape. The risk is obvious — every time Ludogorets push the full-backs forward or leave gaps in transition, Hapoel have the pace and the quality through Altman and Turiel to punish them. The Eagles need to score first to have any real hope of forcing a comeback, and that means the opening 20 minutes at Huvepharma Arena will be absolutely critical. A goal early changes the complexion of everything. Failing to score in that early period, and Hapoel will simply drop deeper and make life extremely difficult.
Hapoel’s approach will be pragmatic. Barda knows the aggregate score does all the work for him, and he will set up to absorb pressure while remaining dangerous on the break. The two-goal cushion means the Red Demons do not need to attack with any urgency, but they are not a team that just defends — Turiel’s assists and Altman’s goal showed their threat going forward, and if Ludogorets leave themselves exposed chasing the game, Hapoel will take their opportunities. It is the kind of away-leg tactical situation that suits a disciplined, organised side, and from what we saw in Hungary, Hapoel fit that description comfortably. Ludogorets will have the crowd behind them, but crowd noise does not close a two-goal gap on its own.
Ludogorets Razgrad vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Prediction and Betting Tips
Ludogorets will give this a real go at home and the crowd will be right behind them, but the task is simply too steep against a Hapoel side that defended solidly in Hungary and have the quality to nick a goal on the break if Razgrad push men forward. The expected outcome here is a Ludogorets win on the night — they are the home side, they have domestic momentum, and they will throw everything at this — but Hapoel going through on aggregate looks the most likely conclusion. A 2-1 scoreline on the night keeps the tie tense without the Eagles managing the full turnaround they need.
The tip is Hapoel Tel Aviv to advance, backed by the Correct Score of 2-1 to Ludogorets on the night reflecting the most plausible scenario: home side wins the match, visiting side goes through on aggregate. For betting purposes, backing Ludogorets in the Match Result market for the individual game offers value given their home advantage and attacking intent, but the aggregate picture clearly favours Hapoel. If you are looking for a clean market play on the night’s action, a Ludogorets home win with over 2.5 goals in the match captures the likely nature of an open, committed second leg where both sides find the net but Hapoel’s away goal does the real damage.