LASK Linz and Ludogorets meet at Linzer Stadion, in a match for this stage of the UEFA Europa League (Group Stage). This will be the first direct confrontation between these two teams, as they have never met before. Pay attention to the home factor, as the LASK Linz usually achieves different results at home and abroad.
LASK:
The home team plays its second game in Group J, after losing (3‑0) in their first match in this group stage, against Tottenham Hotspur. This is a team that curiously tends to achieve more positive results as a visitor than at home, since in the last 30 games they have recorded 6 victories, 3 draws and 6 losses as a visitor, with 26 goals scored and 24 suffered; against 6 victories, 1 draw and 8 defeats in their stadium, with 26 goals scored and 19 suffered. The team comes to this match after a home win against St. Pölten by (4‑0). In the last 10 home matches for all competitions, LASK Linz won 5, drew 1 and lost 4. Their attack has scored regularly, scoring goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In the last 6 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 7 of their 18 goals between minutes (46′ ‑ 60 ‘).
LASK comes into this match after a 4×0 win over St. Polten in a game for the Austrian championship. It should be noted that the home team lost 3×0 to Tottenham on the first day of this group stage of the Europa League. Now, playing at home, coach Dominik Thalhammer is expected to favor maintaining possession and organized attacks, always with the aim of not offering space to his rival. On an individual level, we highlight Andreas Gruber and Marko Raguz, LASK’s top scorers this season, with 6 goals scored each. Out of this game will be Dominik Reiter, due to physical problems.
Ludogorets :
The away team plays its second match in Group J, after losing (1‑2) in their first match in this group stage, against Antwerp. This is a team little affected by the home factor, that is, it presents similar results at home and away, since in the last 30 games it has registered 6 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses as a visitor, with 23 goals scored and 18 suffered; against 10 victories, 2 draws and 3 defeats in his stadium, with 39 goals scored and 9 suffered. The team comes to this match after an away win against Montana by (1‑3). In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, Ludogorets won 5, drew 3 and lost 2. Their attack has scored regularly, as they have always scored at least one goal in the last 10 matches. In the last 15 away matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 6 of their 16 goals between minutes (31’ ‑ 45 ‘).
Ludogorets leave for this motivated game, after winning by 1×3 in the visit to the Montana stadium, in a game for the Bulgarian championship. Notably, the Bulgarians entered the Europa League with a defeat, losing at home to Antwerp by 1×2. Typically, coach Pavel Vrba plays 4-3-3, with Cauly, Kiril Despodov and Higinio Marín being the most offensive references on the team. It is important to highlight the quality of number 7, Alex Santana: the attacking midfielder has great competence in the organization of the offensive process. Outside of this game is Wanderson, a player who is recovering from an injury.
