Preview: Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Olympiacos - prediction, team news, lineups

Level at 1-1 from the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round contest, Ludogorets Razgrad and Olympiacos will lock horns in the second leg of the tie in Bulgaria on Tuesday night.

Ludogorets took the lead in the 50th minute of the reverse match through Kiril Despodov, only for Aguibou Camara to score an 87th-minute equaliser for Olympiacos at Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki.

Match preview

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Ludogorets started this season's Champions League in the first qualifying round, beating Shakhtyor 1-0 home and away to advance to the next stage, where they locked horns with Mura.

The Eagles were held to a goalless draw by Mura in the first leg of their second qualifying round clash but recorded a 3-1 victory in the second leg at home to set up the clash with Olympiacos.

Valdas Dambrauskas's side competed in the group stage of last season's Europa League, losing all six of their fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, LASK and Royal Antwerp during a tough campaign.

Ludogorets finished third in the group stage of the 2016-17 Champions League, though, and therefore know what it takes to compete at this level of football, which should stand them in good stead if they manage to progress past Olympiacos and then win any potential playoff fixture.

The Bulgarian outfit have made a strong start to their domestic campaign, meanwhile, picking up six points from their two matches against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and CSKA 1948 Sofia to sit second in the division.

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Olympiacos, meanwhile, won their second successive league title last season, which saw them automatically qualify for the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The Red-Whites recorded a 2-0 aggregate victory over Neftchi Baku to progress to the third qualifying round, and they have only had the Champions League to focus on this season, with their 2021-22 domestic campaign not beginning until August 20, when they will host Atromitos.

Whether or not the rest will help or hinder Olympiacos remains to be seen, but the fact that they have had a full week to prepare for this contest will surely be an advantage.

Pedro Martins's side competed in the group stage of last season's Champions League, while they reached the last-16 stage of the 2020-21 Europa League, losing to Arsenal over two legs.

Olympiacos will have been disappointed not to have picked up a first-leg advantage from the home fixture, but Camara's late equaliser off the bench could prove crucial in the second leg.

Team News

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Ludogorets have no injury or suspension issues ahead of the second leg, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see the same XI that impressed in the reverse fixture last week.

Despodov was on the scoresheet in the first leg and is a certainty to feature in the final third of the field, while Pieros Sotiriou and Bernard Tekpetey should also operate in a front three.

Alex Santana came off the bench in the 73rd minute of the reverse match but is unlikely to start here, with Cauly set to operate alongside Claude Goncalves and Stephane Badji in midfield.

As for Olympiacos, head coach Martins is expected to make at least a couple of changes to the side that took to the field from the first whistle last week.

Yann M'Vila replaced Pierre Malong at the interval of the first leg and that alteration could now occur before the match begins, while Thanasis Androutsos is pushing to replace Kenny Lala.

There are unlikely to be any changes in the final third of the field, though, with the experienced Mathieu Valbuena being joined by Koka and Giorgos Masouras.

Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Ikoko, Plastun, Verdon, Nedyalkov; Cauly, Badji, Goncalves; Tekpetey, Sotiriou, Despodov

Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Ba, Semedo, Cisse; Androutsos, Camara, M'Vila, Reabciuk; Valbuena, Koka, Masouras

We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 0-1 Olympiacos (Olympiacos 2-1 on aggregate)

This is a very, very difficult match to call for a number of reasons, and it would not be a surprise to see this contest go all the way to penalties. Olympiacos have only conceded once in their three Champions League games this term, though, and we fancy the Greek side to keep another clean sheet and ultimately progress courtesy of a one-goal win.