Ludogorets, Liverpool Face Off in Decisive Encounter

Ludogorets holding a training ahead of their Champions League match with Liverpool. Photo: BGNES/EPA

The reigning Bulgarian champion Ludogorets faces English side Liverpool in a decisive Champions League Group B match, that is to determine which of the two teams is to continue its participation in the European tournaments.

Before the Wednesday game, the two teams occupy the bottom two places in Group B, with an equal number of points – 3, but the English side has a better goal difference.

Both teams come out for the victory, as it will increase their opportunities for continuing their participation in the European tournaments in the spring.

While Ludogorets has less chances of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Champions League, an eventual win will give them an important advantage over their direct opponents for occupying the third place in the final standing, which will guarantee them participation in the Europa League tournament.

In the first game between the two teams in September, Liverpool achieved a narrow 2-1 victory after scoring the winning goal from a penalty awarded in injury time.

But since then the English have recorded a poor performance, achieving only 6 victories out of 18 matches in all tournaments.

In their last game on Sunday, Liverpool suffered a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, and are currently occupying the 12^th place in the Premier League, which is a far cry from their performance last season, when they ended second.

Similarly, Ludogorets are not doing their greatest season, alternating good games in Europe with more modest performances in the domestic A Group, where they currently stand at 2^nd place.

In particular, they performed poorly in the Saturday derby against current leaders CSKA, drawing 1-1.

In Europe, the team from Razgrad played well in their first three matches of the Champions League, but suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Basel, which sent them at the bottom of Group B.

Liverpool will not rely on forward Daniel Sturridge and striker Mario Balotelli, as both of them are injured and did not travel to Sofia.

Due to injuries, striker Roman Bezjak and defender Brayan Angulo will not appear for Ludogorets.

The English visitors arrived in Sofia on Tuesday evening and were taken straight to their hotel, avoiding to greet the crowd of supporters that had gathered at the airport.

The five-time European champions have refused to carry out a training on Bulgarian soil, holding their last training session in the UK.

The match, which will be played at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, kicks-off at 21.45, and will be broadcasted live on bTV Action.

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