FK Qarabag vs. Ferencvaros
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Ferencváros One Step Away from Champions League
Ferencváros defeated PFC Ludogorets Razgrad 3-0 on aggregate in the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. The Hungarian champions will face Qarabağ FK from Azerbaijan in the next round. The last time Fradi made it past the qualifiers in the primary European club competition was in 2020, but that was during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Budapest team had to play most of their games in empty stadiums during that time. Making it to the UCL this year would provide a much better, more memorable experience for the fans.
Ludogorets are also dominating their own domestic league, even more so than Fradi, winning the last 14 (!) titles. They also have significant international experience, having played in the group stage and league phase in both the Champions League and the Europa League. Thus, they were a formidable opposition.
In the first leg of the tie in Razgrad, Bulgaria, the teams tied 0–0. However, Ferencváros were closer to victory, despite playing away from home. Fradi striker Lenny Joseph even scored, but it was ruled out for offside.
In the rematch, in the packed Groupama Arena in Budapest, Hungary, it was Ludogorets who got one goal annulled for offside—Ivaylo Chochev had to be disappointed after finding the back of the net in the sixth minute. Hungarian international Barnabás Varga, on the other hand, finally got a goal that stayed on the scoreboard in the tie: he headed a cross from Bence Ötvös into the net from around 13 yards out.
Varga then doubled his tally in the 79th minute. Zsombor Gruber, who just came on from the bench, deftly beat his man inside the box, then his low cross met the goal scorer around seven yards from goal, making it an easy tap-in. This was the fourth goal for Varga in the UCL qualifiers this season. Central back Gábor Szalai set the final, 3–0 scoreline (both for the night and on aggregate) after heading a corner home in the 86th minute.
In the next round, Ferencváros will square off against Qarabağ FK from Azerbaijan in the last hurdle before reaching the coveted UEFA Champions League league phase. Qarabağ FK breezed past their North Macedonian opposition Shkëndija with 6–1 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.
Even if FTC were to fall short against Qarabağ, they would still be eligible to play in the Europa League league phase this season—so plenty of European action is guaranteed for the Hungarian champions!
The last time Fradi made it past the qualifiers in the primary European club competition was in 2020—back then, the group stage format was in place. However, that was during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus the Budapest team had to play most of their games in empty stadiums. Making it to the UCL this year would provide a much better, more memorable experience for the fans. Also, given the introduction of the league phase, Fradi would be guaranteed eight UCL games, instead of the six in the group stage format.
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Ferencvaros vs Ludogorets Prediction and Betting Tips
Ferencvaros host Ludogorets in a winner-takes-all Champions League qualifier. The two sides drew 0-0 in the first leg in Bulgaria last week. The Hungarians are looking to end a five-year absence from the group stage. Barnabas Varga has started the season well, with the forward netting three times in five games. The 30-year-old has impressed me every time I’ve seen him play for Hungary. He’s 20/21 at Bet365 for anytime scorer. The half-time draw is better at 23/20 while backing most goals to come after the break pays 21/20. Bernard Tekpetey’s place in the Ludogsorets side could be under threat after he was hooked at half- time. The odds aren’t great at 3/4 but it could be spicier here as the tie is decided.
Ferencvaros will be hoping a passionate home crowd can help them floor Ludogorets in this UEFA Champions League qualifier after grinding out a 0-0 draw in Bulgaria last week.
The Hungarians are looking to end a five-year absence from the group stage after suffering heartache in the qualifiers for the last four years. They’ve only reached the play-off round once during that time but stand a good chance this year following last week’s stalemate.
The Betting Desk thought we’d see plenty of goals in that first leg but the teams cancelled each other out and that means it’s now a winner-takes-all shootout in Budapest.
Ludogorets haven’t graced the group stage since season 2016/17 and crashed out at this juncture last year with an 8-4 aggregate loss to Qarabag.
They then failed to register a single win in their Europa League group campaign but claimed creditable draws away to Lazio, Lyon and Viktoria Plzen.
The Bulgarians also beat a decent Rijeka side in the last round of Champions League qualifying so they are more than capable of getting a result in Hungary.
How the bookies view it: Hosts Hungary for glory
BoyleSports fancy Ferencvaros to finish the job at home, with the Hungarians 8/15 hot favourites, Ludogorets look a bit overpriced at 4/1 and another stalemate pays 13/5.
Head to head: Close encounters
These sides faced off four times in 2019 after being paired together in both the Champions League qualifiers and the Europa League. Ferencvaros won the first two clashes before Ludogorets got their revenge with a 3-0 away win in the Europa League and a 1-1 draw.
Players to watch: Give us Barnabas
Barnabas Varga has started the season well, with the forward netting three times in five games. The 30-year-old has impressed me every time I’ve seen him play for Hungary and he’s 20/21 at Bet365 for anytime scorer.
I flagged up Erick Marcus for a Ludogorets goal on the road away to Minsk and the Brazilian delivered on that occasion for his team. He should pose the biggest threat for them here and is 9/2 for anytime scorer.
Probable line-ups
Both teams should be along similar lines to the first leg, although Bernard Tekpetey’s place in the Ludogorets side could be under threat after he was hooked at half-time.
Ferencvaros: Dibusz, Gartenmann, Szalai, Raemaekers, Otvos, Makreckis, Kanichowsky, O’Dowda, Varga, Toth, Joseph.
Ludogorets: Bonmann, Nedyalkov, Almeida, Kurtulus, Son, Vidal, Stanic, Kaloc, Naressi, Choular, Marcus.
Anything else catch the eye?
With the scores level after the first leg, this could be another cagey match as neither team needs to go for it. Ludogorets have also been a tough nut to crack on the road in Europe, conceding more than once in just two of their last 11 road trips.
That makes under 2.5 goals likely for this one, although the odds aren’t great at 3/4. The half-time draw is better at 23/20 while backing most goals to come after the break pays 21/20.
Four yellows were flashed in the first leg and it could be spicier here as the tie is decided. So try going for a high number of cards if the bookies get round to pricing up that market.
Ferencvaros vs Ludogorets Betting Tips & Predictions
Barnabas Varga to score 20/21 Bet365 BET HERE
Half-time draw 23/20 Boylesports BET HERE
Most goals second half 21/20 Boylesports BET HERE
Further Reading
If Shkëndija passes Qarabag, he will play against Ludogorets or Ferencvaros
Shkëndija will play Qarabag in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. UEFA has already determined the possible pairings for the play-off phase of this prestigious competition. The winner of the match will play with the winner of Ludogorets – Ferencvaros. The first leg will be played away on August 19 or 20, while the return leg is in Skopje.
However, UEFA has already determined the possible pairings for the play-off phase of this prestigious competition, in which the champion of North Macedonia can participate if it eliminates the team from Azerbaijan.
In the draw held today in Nyon, the duel in which Shkëndija is participating has been immediately determined. The winner of the Shkëndija – Qarabag match will play in the play-off phase with the winner of the Ludogorets (Bulgaria) – Ferencvaros (Hungary) pair.
Possible pairings of the Champions League play-off phase (Champions Road):
Ludogorets / Ferencvaros – Spark / Qarabag
Lech Poznan / Crvena Zvezda – Dynamo Kyiv / Pafos
Bodo/Glimt – Sturm Graz
Celtic – Kairat / Slovan Bratislava
Basel – Malmö / Copenhagen
According to the UEFA draw, if Shkëndija reaches the play-offs, the first leg will be played away on August 19 or 20, while the return leg will be played in Skopje on August 26 or 27.
We recall that Shkëndija is the second most successful Albanian club in European competitions, after Skënderbeu of Korça, which had reached the “play-off” stage of the Champions League and played in the groups of the Europa League. With the current performance, the Tetovan team is on the way to another important chapter in their international history. /Telegraph/
Champions League: Qarabag’s potential opponents in playoffs determined
The draw for the playoff stage of the UEFA Champions League was held today. The potential opponent of the Azerbaijani champion Qarabağ has also been determined. The winner of the Aghdam representative’s duel with Shkendiya will face the stronger of the pair Ludogorets (Bulgaria) and Ferencvaros (Hungary)
The potential opponent of the Azerbaijani champion Qarabağ has also been determined at the ceremony.
The winner of the Aghdam representative’s duel with Shkendiya will face the stronger of the pair Ludogorets (Bulgaria) and Ferencvaros (Hungary).
Both teams are familiar to Qarabağ. The Azerbaijani representative faced Ludogorets in the third qualifying round of the 2024/25 season of the Champions League. The Köhlən Atlar (Gray Wolves) eliminated their opponent with a total score of 8:4 over two matches.
In the 2023/24 season, the Ağdam team faced “Ferencváros” in the same stage of Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Our team also advanced from that stage – 4:2.
Note that the matches of this stage will be held on August 19-20 and 26-27.