Ludogorets vs Rijeka: UEFA Champions League Prediction (31.07.2025)

On Wednesday, July 31 at 00:30 WIB, Ludogorets will host Croatian club Rijeka at the Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad for the second leg of the 2025–2026 UEFA Champions League qualification round. The first leg ended in a goalless draw.

In the Ludogorets vs Rijeka matchup, bookmakers give a significant edge to the home side. A bet on the “Eagles” to win in regular time comes with odds of 1.98, while their chances of advancing to the next round are rated at 1.40. For Rijeka, the same markets are set at 4.45 and 2.95 respectively. After a “dry” first match, experts are not expecting a goal-fest in the second either: over 2.5 total goals is offered at 2.15, while both teams to score is priced at 1.86.

Ludogorets

Rui Mota’s team has already passed Belarusian side Dinamo Minsk in the first UCL qualification round and has kicked off their domestic league campaign. In theory, the team should be reaching a decent level of match fitness. However, this was not evident in the first leg against the Croatian side. Moreover, due to an inability to fully realize their potential, the team played nervously, frequently losing coordination. This resulted in a series of rough fouls. Despite committing 15 fouls, the “Eagles” somehow managed to collect six yellow cards.

Rijeka

For Radomir Djalovic’s side, the home match against Ludogorets was their first official game of the new season. The match was tense and nervy but offered little insight. It was clear that the players have yet to fully understand each other on the pitch. This could be a decisive factor in the return leg, especially considering it will be Ludogorets’ sixth match of the new season. Fans are expecting more attacking output from 24-year-old striker Toni Fruk, who showed sharp form in the previous Croatian league campaign.

Stats and Head-to-Head Record

Looking at the stats from the first match, the teams appear fairly even. Ludogorets had more attempts toward goal (9:5), but Rijeka had more on target (4:2). The Croatian side also led in corners (3:2) and committed more fouls (18:15).

Prediction

Ludogorets did not look like the favorites in the first leg. However, their overall quality is higher, and their early-season momentum gives them an edge. Like the bookmakers, we don’t expect many goals and suggest betting on Ludogorets to avoid defeat combined with under 3.5 total goals at odds of 1.60.