Get ready for the return leg of the Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round between Ludogorets and Astana. This should be an interesting match and this preview contains everything you need to know. Read on!
It should be mentioned that Astana play their home matches on artifical turf, so they have to adjust for this one as it's played on grass. Does it matter? Recent statistics for Astana on grass are 13 victories, 7 draws and 5 defeats from 25 games. In these matches they have a goal statistics scored/conceded: 39-27. You can compare this with overall results below.
These teams have little in common geographically as Astana have to travel 4300 kilometers to reach their opponents. The trip home will be especially long if the match ends in defeat.
There haven't been much to rest for the home team, as they played a Parva Liga game only four days earlier. Thankfully the previous game, versus CSKA Sofia, was also a home game here at Huvepharma Arena. The away team is better rested.
Ludogorets form and stats
Ludogorets was eliminated in the group stage last season in the Europa League.As mentioned below, Ludogorets are feasting on a winning streak here so far with maximum points from their first 2 Parva Liga games.
The Ludogorets goalkeeper Sergio Padt is looking to record 90 more "clean sheet" minutes as his team have now played 292 minutes without conceding a goal in the Parva Liga.
Ludogorets's previous game was also played at home, ending 3-0 versus CSKA Sofia. The home side are looking to build on that result.
Before that game, a loss in the away fixture against Astana in the Europa League.
There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Ludogorets as they are travelling to their away game against Cherno More in the Parva Liga. That match is three days after this one.
It's still early days, but we have some goal stats for the Ludogorets at home in the league. 8 on target and 0 scored by the opposition; from 2 matches.
Astana form and stats
Astana have an excellent away record in the Premier League so far with 6-2-1 from 9 games.
Astana aren't clicking offensively as they have gone 193 league minutes without a goal. Darboe was the last player to find the net.
The regulars enjoyed Astana's previous game versus Ludogorets, a Europa League win (2-1) played at home.
The match earlier was the Champions League-duel against Dinamo Zagreb, a home defeat (0-2).
The visitors are returning home after this fixture, hosting Kaisar in just two days.
Astana are tighter than a frog's bottom, as only {3 away goals} have been conceded so far.
Head 2 Head
This isn't the first time these sides face each other this season, as the history books show this recent match: Astana - Ludogorets 2-1.
Top Goalscorers
  A. Aymbetov 6 goals | D. Darboe 3 goals |  M. Tomasov 3 goals |
Ludogorets missing players
Astana missing players
| Ludogorets | Astana | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 17 | 9 | Won | W | 7 | 15 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 3 | 5 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Lost | L | 3 | 5 | ||
| 50 | 26 | Scored | S | 12 | 32 | ||
| 22 | 8 | Conceded | C | 11 | 22 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 85% | 88% | ||
| 80% | 75% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 54% | 64% | ||
| 64% | 58% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 31% | 36% | ||
| 32% | 33% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 8% | 16% | ||
| 12% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 8% | ||
| 48% | 42% | BTTS | BTTS | 31% | 36% | ||
| 48% | 58% | Clean Sheets | C S | 46% | 44% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 38% | 32% | ||
| 5.8 | 6.9 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.2 | 5.8 | ||
| 2.8 | 2.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.4 | 4 | ||
| 2.3 | 1.9 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14.6 | 15.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 8.5 | 9.8 | ||
| 6.1 | 6.4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 4.8 | 5.4 | ||
| 33% | 34% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 19% | 24% | ||
| 6.5 | 4.7 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 8 | 7.1 | ||
| 2.7 | 1.9 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.4 | 3.1 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Cherno More | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 2 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 13 |
| 3 | Ludogorets | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 9 |
| 4 | Levski Sofia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 9 |
| 5 | Beroe | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | Hebar 1918 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | CSKA 1948 Sofia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 8 | Arda | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 9 | Lokomotiv Sofia 1929 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -6 | 6 |
| 10 | CSKA Sofia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 5 |
| 11 | Slavia Sofia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 12 | Levski Krumovgrad | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 13 | Botev Vratsa | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -9 | 3 |
| 14 | Botev Plovdiv | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 2 |
| 15 | OFK Pirin | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 1 |
| 16 | Etar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -7 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Ordabasy | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 25 | 45 |
| 2 | Aktobe | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 36 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 39 |
| 3 | Astana | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 39 |
| 4 | Kairat | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 29 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 32 |
| 5 | Kyzyl-Zhar | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 30 |
| 6 | Atyrau | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 21 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | -1 | 27 |
| 7 | Tobol | 17 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 12 | -2 | 26 |
| 8 | Zhetysu | 19 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 11 | -8 | 24 |
| 9 | Kaisar | 19 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 21 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 10 | -2 | 23 |
| 10 | Shakhter Karagandy | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | -4 | 20 |
| 11 | Okzhetpes | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 13 | -8 | 17 |
| 12 | Maqtaaral | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -7 | 14 |
| 13 | Kaspiy | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 32 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 18 | -12 | 14 |
| 14 | Aksu | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 33 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 21 | -17 | 12 |
