Arsenal vs Ludogorets Razgrad will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs. While Ludogorets are still looking for their first victory in this season’s Champions League, Arsenal managed to kick off the campaign with a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain, and then beat FC Basel 2-0.
Ludogorets will very much be the outsiders in the match against Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday October 19 (read Ludogorets’ full Champions League preview here). In fact in their only previous visit to England, Ludogorets were defeated by Liverpool FC in the 2014-15 group stage. In the return match, however, Ludogorets managed a 2-2 draw.
The five-time Bulgarian champion will therefore travel to London with the hope to achieve the impossible. Indeed the club has the weapons up front to threaten Arsenal’s defence.
Brazilian right-winger Jonathan Cafú and Romanian striker Claudiu Keșerü can hurt any defensive line. Cafú in particular is an interesting prospect, and the 24-year-old winger, who is valued €4 million, will be motivated to show that he could be an important player for any club from one of Europe’s top leagues.
Ludogorets’ Georgi Dermendzhiev has built a team that heavily relies on Brazilian talent, but as a result also plays attractive well-structured football that can be a threat even to bigger clubs. In fact the Bulgarians have scored 15 goals in the qualification stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Hence, Arsenal’s manager Arsène Wenger will be warned not to underestimate the Bulgarians on matchday three. With Ludogorets having shown that they are not shy to play attacking football at this level it will be interesting to see how they will approach the match in England.
In fact don’t be surprised if the match at the Emirates will be a high scoring affair with Arsenal the likely victor in the first ever match between the two sides.
Possible Line-ups
Ludogorets Razgrad:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Stoyanov – Natanael, Palomino, Plastun, Cicinho – Marcelinho, Campanharo – Wanderson, Juninho, Jonathan Cafú – Keseru
Manager: Georgi Dermendzhiev
Arsenal:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Cech – Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi, Bellerin – Cazorla, Xhaka – Sanchez, Özil, Walcott – Giroud
Manager: Arsène Wenger
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