Rijeka vs Ludogorets Razgrad Prediction & Best Bet – July 22, 2025
Croatian champions Rijeka welcome Ludogorets Razgrad to Stadion Rujevica for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round clash. Both sides are looking to make a strong push for the League phase, with Rijeka aiming to break new ground and Ludogorets hoping to continue their long-standing presence in European competitions. With two domestic title-winning squads going head-to-head, this tie promises to be one of the most exciting in the round.
Rijeka Team News and Preview: Djalovic’s Champions League Mission Begins
Montenegrin coach Radomir Djalovic led Rijeka to their second Croatian Championship last season, completing a remarkable domestic double that also included the Croatian Cup. Appointed last August in place of Zeljko Sopic, Djalovic quickly turned things around after a difficult European debut, which saw Rijeka suffer early exits against Elfsborg (2-0) and Olimpija Ljubljana (6-1 on aggregate) in the UEFA competitions.
Now, the Adriatic side are looking to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage/league phase for the first time, having fallen just short in their previous two attempts. They came closest in 2017, when they reached the playoff round, only to be knocked out by Greek giants Olympiacos.
The star of Rijeka’s successful domestic campaign was undoubtedly Toni Fruk. The versatile attacking midfielder not only pulled the strings in midfield but also finished as the club’s top scorer with 15 goals across all competitions. Creative and technically gifted, Fruk will be central to Rijeka’s attacking efforts against the Bulgarian champions. Supported by a solid core that includes experienced defenders and disciplined central midfielders, Rijeka will be counting on their strong home form at Stadion Rujevica to build an advantage ahead of the second leg.
One of the intriguing subplots in this clash will be the possible involvement of Dominik Yankov, a recent summer signing for Rijeka. The Canada-born Bulgarian international spent seven years at Ludogorets between 2017 and 2024 but never fully established himself as a regular starter. Now at Rijeka, Yankov will be pushing for a starting role against his former club, adding an emotional layer to the encounter as he looks to make an impact in what could be a personal statement game.
Ludogorets Team News and Preview: Resilient Razgrad Ready for Rujevica
Ludogorets Razgrad continued their domestic dominance by clinching a 14th consecutive Bulgarian First League title, further solidifying their status as the country’s football powerhouse. Under the guidance of Croatian coach Igor Jovicevic, the team also completed a remarkable domestic treble, lifting the Bulgarian Cup for the fourth time in their history and adding an eighth Bulgarian Super Cup to their trophy cabinet. Despite the silverware-laden season, the club opted for a change in direction ahead of the new campaign, parting ways with Jovicevic and appointing Portuguese tactician Rui Mota as head coach in a bid to achieve greater success in Europe.
Having suffered a humiliating 7-2 defeat at Qarabag in last season’s UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Ludogorets Razgrad are now determined to rewrite their European narrative. The Bulgarian champions are aiming to reach the newly introduced ‘league phase’ of the Champions League for the first time, with their last appearance in the group stage dating back nearly a decade — in the 2016/17 season. The club’s leadership sees this campaign as a crucial opportunity to restore Ludogorets’ continental credentials and break their prolonged absence from Europe’s elite stage.
The Eagles arrive in Croatia with momentum and a sense of relief after narrowly avoiding an early Champions League exit. The Bulgarian champions overcame Dinamo Minsk 3-2 on aggregate in the first qualifying round, although their progression was anything but straightforward. After securing a last-gasp 1-0 win in Razgrad, Ludogorets fell 2-1 in the second leg, played in Hungary due to UEFA sanctions against Belarus. That result forced extra time, where Eric Bile capitalized on a goalkeeper’s error to score the crucial equalizer and send the Eagles through.
Under new head coach Rui Mota, Ludogorets showed signs of attacking fluidity and dominance in their domestic league opener, thrashing Septemvri Sofia 5-0 at home on Saturday evening. The match saw five different scorers, with Ivaylo Chochev, Eric Bile, Stanislav Ivanov, Deroy Duarte, and Olivier Verdon all getting on the scoresheet. The Razgrad side created chances from the outset, dominated possession, and could have won by an even larger margin.
Crucially, Ludogorets demonstrated squad depth and variety in their attacking play. Eric Bile, who netted the decisive goal in extra time against Dinamo Minsk, is emerging as a key figure, while midfielders like Chochev and Duarte provide control and creativity. However, questions remain about their defensive discipline in high-pressure European fixtures—a vulnerability that Rijeka could exploit.
With this being Ludogorets’ 14th consecutive season in European competitions, they bring valuable continental experience, but they will need focus and composure in Croatia to keep their league phase ambitions alive.
Possible Starting Lineups of Rijeka and Ludogorets Razgrad
Rijeka: Martin Zlomislic – Mladen Devetak, Stjepan Radeljic, Ante Majstorovic, Ante Orec – Dejan Petrovic, Niko Jankovic – Luka Menalo, Toni Fruk, Gabriel Rukavina – Duje Cop. (4-2-3-1)
Ludogorets Razgrad: Sergio Padt – Anton Nedyalkov, Olivier Verdon, Edvin Kurtulus, Son – Jakub Piotrowski, Pedro Naressi – Caio Vidal, Filip Kaloc, Bernard Tekpetey – Erick Bile. (4-2-3-1)
Rijeka vs Ludogorets Betting Prediction and Match Odds
Rijeka enter the first leg at +115 odds to win, according to EveryGame‘s latest betting odds, reflecting their slight edge as hosts. However, Ludogorets Razgrad are priced closely at +210, while a draw stands at +200, signaling a tight and evenly matched contest. While the Croatian champions enjoy home advantage and come off a stellar domestic campaign, it’s worth noting they have yet to play an official match in the 2025-26 season, potentially leaving them vulnerable in terms of sharpness.
In contrast, Ludogorets are already in competitive rhythm after three official games—two tense Champions League qualifiers against Dinamo Minsk and a commanding 5-0 league win over Septemvri Sofia. Despite being underdogs in this away leg, the Bulgarian side are slight -125 favorites to qualify overall, while Rijeka sit narrowly behind at -111, underlining just how delicately poised this tie is.
A compelling value bet emerges in the Both Teams to Score – Yes market at -118, especially given Rijeka’s attacking setup and Ludogorets’ proven scoring ability in recent outings. We recommend a 7/10 unit stake on this market, as both sides boast dangerous forwards and creative midfielders likely to exploit early-season defensive lapses.
Expect a closely contested encounter that could end in a (1-1) draw, leaving everything to play for in the return leg in Razgrad. Expect both sides to find the net, but not to separate themselves (at least not considerably) in the first 90 minutes.