Bulgaria’s Ludogorets secures Europa League knockout stage spot
Bulgaria’s football champion Ludogorets Razgrad qualified for the Uefa Europa League knockout stages with two matches to spare after a 1-1 draw against Chornomorets Odessa on November 7.
The tie ended Ludogorets’s run of three wins in the tournament’s group stage, during which the team had not allowed a single goal. The Bulgarian champion has been one of the surprises of this year’s tournament, surprising PSV Eindhoven away in their first match before winning against Dinamo Zagreb at home and Chornomorets away.
In the return fixture against Chornomorets at thome, Juninho Quixadá put Ludogorets ahead two minutes after half-time before Olexiy Gai headed an equaliser.
After four matches, Ludogorets remains the favourite to win the group, with a three points advantage over PSV, whom the Bulgarian champion is due to play next, on November 28 at the Vassil Levski national stadium in Sofia.
(Photo: juan carlos arellano/sxc.hu)
