HNK Rijeka and Ludogorets Razgrad will continue their respective quests to make it through to the UEFA Champions League as they kick off their second-round qualifying tie at Stadion Rujevica on Tuesday. Our HNK Rijeka vs Ludogorets Razgrad prediction gives a glimpse of how we expect Tuesday's game to unfold.
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HNK Rijeka vs Ludogorets Razgrad prediction: Rijeka to claim narrow advantage
Key stats
- Our HNK Rijeka vs Ludogorets Razgrad betting tips take into account the fact that the home side have been defensively porous of late, having failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last five meetings
- However, Rijeka have only been beaten in just one of nine competitive home matches across all competitions heading into Tuesday's encounter.
- Ludogorets endured a rough pre-season journey, failing to win any of their four matches, but the Bulgarian giants have since won two and drawn one of their three outings this term.
- Tempers have rarely flared in games involving the away side, with seven of their last eight matches yielding fewer than five cards.
Correct score prediction: HNK Rijeka 2-1 Ludogorets Razgrad
Ludogorets have been in competitive action more recently than their hosts, which is something that could work in the visitors' favour.
Still, we are leaning towards a win for Rijeka when all is said and done.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Rijeka the bookies' favourite
- HOME: 5/4 (2.25) – 44.4%
- DRAW: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
- AWAY: 9/4 (3.25) – 30.8%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Rijeka have been touted as favourites to emerge victorious with a 44.4% win probability, but Ludogorets are not that far behind with a 30.8% win probability, which happens to be the same likelihood of Tuesday's game ending all square.
Due to their involvement in the Champions League qualifiers, Rijeka have had their pre-season cut short for the time being, and Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Goztepe was hardly a positive note to sign off on.
Radomir Dalovic's men were undone just shy of the half-hour mark by David Tijanic, whose strike proved to be the all-important moment.
Ludogorets, meanwhile, could have asked for a better start to their title defence than Saturday's 5-0 drubbing of Septemvri Sofia.
Rui Mota's men went into the break with a narrow advantage courtesy of Ivajlo Chochev's penalty before second-half goals from Yves Erick Bile, Stanislav Ivanov, Deroy Duarte and Olivier Verdon put the seal on a dominant display.
For more from the upcoming matches, today’s free football betting tips look at some of the best picks.
Most recent H2Hs: Rijeka seeking revenge a decade on
Our HNK Rijeka vs Ludogorets Razgrad prediction reveals that while Tuesday's game will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the sides, they have previously faced off in a friendly 10 years ago. Ludogorets were the victors on that day following a 2-1 triumph.
Club Friendly List 28/01/15
HNK Rijeka
Ludogorets Razgrad
HNK Rijeka preview: Multiple official debuts expected
Having made seven signings already this summer, Rijeka have been fairly active in the transfer market, so Tuesday's game will allow the fans to see some of the new arrivals in action.
Forward Ante Juric has already opened his account for the club, albeit in a non-competitive setting, and the forward could be handed a starting role.
Formerly of Ludogorets, Dominik Yankov will be bracing himself for the visit of some familiar faces in his first official assignment for the home side.
Predicted lineup: Zlomislic (GK), Orec, Majstorovic, Radeljic, Devetak, Petrovic, Ndockyt, Fruk, Jankovic, Menalo & Cop
Croatia HNL 10/05/25
W
HNK Sibenik
0
HNK Rijeka
1
Croatia HNL 04/05/25
W
HNK Gorica
1
HNK Rijeka
2
Croatia HNL 27/04/25
L
Dinamo Zagreb
1
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 23/04/25
L
NK Osijek
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Croatia HNL 19/04/25
L
Istra 1961
2
HNK Rijeka
0
Ludogorets Razgrad preview: Stanislav Ivanov poised to retain starting role
Ivanov is one of five signings made by Ludogorets this summer but had to make do with a place on the bench in both legs of his side's first-round qualifier against Dinamo Minsk.
He was finally handed a start against Septemvri last time out and repaid his manager's faith with a lovely strike 10 minutes into the second half, which should see him get the nod to feature right from the off once again.
Predicted lineup: Bonmann (GK), Son, Kurtulus, Verdon, Shishkov, Naressi, Duarte, Ivanov, Chochev, Marcus & Bile
Bulgaria First League 13/05/25
L
Cherno More Varna
2
Ludogorets Razgrad
0
Bulgaria First League 09/05/25
D
Arda Kardzhali
1
Ludogorets Razgrad
1
Bulgaria First League 03/05/25
D
Levski Sofia
1
Ludogorets Razgrad
1
Bulgaria First League 27/04/25
W
Cherno More Varna
0
Ludogorets Razgrad
2
Bulgaria Cup 23/04/25
W
Botev Vratsa
0
Ludogorets Razgrad
2
Player to watch – Son
Not so often do you see a defender leading a title-winning team in direct goal contributions throughout a season, but that was exactly the case with Son, who racked up five goals and eight assists en route to picking up a winners' medal.
The 31-year-old was handed a breather in the second half of his side's last outing and should be fit and raring to go once again on Tuesday.
Son's attacking threat will be key for Ludogorets
Son delivered the assist for Filip Kaloc's 87th-minute winner in the first leg of round one and remains a significant source of attacking impetus for the away side.
Signed for just €100k, the Spaniard is proving to be one of the most shrewd additions in Ludogorets' history as he sets out to aid his side's quest to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017.