Ludogorets Razgrad and Choronomorets Odesa will face off in a crucial Europa League match on Thursday.
Both teams are facing off for the first time in their respective histories and will look to gain an edge in the group stage. Ludogorets Razgrad currently sits atop Group B with six points in its first two games. The team took down PSV Eindhoven 2-0 in its first game and then proceeded to stun Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 at home.
Meanwhile the Ukrainian side Choronomorets Odesa opened its tournament with a surprising 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb before falling 2-0 at home against PSV Eindhoven.
If Ludogorets Razgrad wins the game then it will have nine points and a comfortable lead atop the group. Moreover, the team would have two home games remaining and would likely be in a position to qualify for the knockout rounds. A win by Odesa would pull them level with the Bulgarian team and give then a huge chance to qualify.
Prediction: When two unknowns face off, the home side is usually given the advantage. In this case, Choronomorets Odesa should be seen as the favorite. However, the team lost its lone home encounter and is facing a side that has yet to concede a single goal in the first two matches. Throw in the fact that Ludogorets Razgrad has scored five goals in that span and it seems like the obvious pick. Look for the Bulgarian team to pull off a 2-0 win.
Start Time: 3 p.m. EST