Ludogorets have already played in all European tournaments this season. The Bulgarian champions started the season in Champions League qualification, where they failed to beat Dinamo Zagreb in the semi-finals. After that, Ludogorets narrowly defeated Zalgiris in the Europa League qualifying, and finished third in the group after Roma and Betis. Anderlecht, bronze medallists in Belgium's last league title, went straight into the Conference League. Having beaten Young Boys out of the way in qualifying, the team finished second in the group behind London's West Ham. In the first encounter between the opponents in the 1/16 finals on Bulgarian soil, the home side scored as early as the ninth minute. Ludogorets gave up the initiative to their opponents, but kept the winning score until the final whistle. The one-goal advantage prior to the return leg makes the Bulgarian club the favourite to advance to the next round in the bookmakers' rating at 1.57.

Last Sunday, Ludogorets won an important game in the national championship against the club Slavia Sofia. Moreover, the team from the capital was defeated by a goal scored in the 90+3 minutes. This win kept Ludogorets one point behind the league leader, and put them in a good mood ahead of the trip to Belgium. In their last seven official matches, the Bulgarian club has not lost to their opponents, winning seven of them.

Anderlecht had a two-goal advantage in Bulgaria in terms of attacks on the opponents' goal, possession and shots towards goal. However, this time, too, the Belgian team's problems with implementation affected. Largely because of them, the club are currently sitting in ninth place in the national championship. By the way, on Sunday, Anderlecht had every chance to lose away to modest Kortrijk, but they came back in the 83rd minute to score 2-2. Once the uncontested contender for the Belgian league title, Anderlecht have lost six of their last ten official home games, failing to score in half of them.

With such problems in Anderlecht's camp, not even a good performance in the first game is convincing in their ability to bounce back. Ludogorets are an experienced club that will be able to choose the right strategy for the return leg and qualify for the next round.