First leg score: Ludogorets Razgrad 1-2 GNK Dinamo Zagreb
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Match preview
Having won in Razgrad, GNK Dinamo Zagreb are now in pole position to get through this tie.
A week ago, the Croatian champions raced into an early 2-0 lead at Huvepharma Arena, scoring twice in the opening nine minutes.
Dino Perić broke the deadlock before, mere moments later, Sergio Padt scored an own goal.
Bernard Tekpetey did half the deficit mid-way through the first half, but that turned out to be the end of the scoring.
So, will GNK Dinamo now finish the job back at Stadion Maksimir?
Since their first in 1998, Dinamo Zagreb have qualified for seven Champions League and ten Europa League group phases.
This includes reaching the Europa League quarter-finals in 2021, their best run in UEFA competition since 1970.
Assuming Ante Čačić’s side don’t relinquish their advantage, they’ll add to one of those aforementioned tallies, desperate to get back into the Champions League for the first time in three season.
Ludogorets Razgrad are also a dominant domestic force, winning 11 successive Bulgarian First Leagues.
This has seen the Eagles qualify for eight European group phases since 2013, last failing to do so in 2015.
However, given that Ludogorets have only won two of their last 12 European away games, a comeback in Zagreb seems unlikely.
The reward for the winners of this tie is a place in the Champions League play-offs where they’ll meet Bodø/Glimt.
The losers, who are still guaranteed some sort of group stage football, will meet Žalgiris Vilnius in the Europa League play-off round.
