Preview of PFC Ludogorets Razgrad vs Shakhtyor Soligorsk – 2021/22 Champions League First Qualifying Round

July 7, 2021

 

These diaries previously reviewed Ludogorets ahead of their Europa League play-off tie against Dinamo Brest in October last year, in addition to three reviews of the early stages of 2020/21 Bulgarian Parva Liga. Ludogorets were comfortable 2-0 winners in Belarus that day, although had the tie been playing in front of a hostile crowd in Brest instead of behind closed doors in Minsk, perhaps the outcome would have different ? Who knows !

In any case, here is an update on the background of the Bulgarian champions.

Formed : 1945

Championships :  10 ( the last 10 Bulgarian championships ! )

Cup Winners : 2 ( 2012 and 2014 )

Location : Razgrad, 335km north-east of Sofia

Stadium : Huvepharma Arena ( capacity 10,422 - although there are plans to increase capacity ).

Colours : All Green, change kit All White.

Nickname : The Eagles

Owner : Kiril Domuschiev ( Bulgarian Pharmaceutical entrepreneur )

Coach : Lithuanian Valdas Dambrauskas was appointed in January 2021, replacing Pavel Vrba, formally coach of Czech Republic ( and now coach of Sparta Prague ) who resigned in October 2020 after poor results in the Europa League.

Last Season : Champions - Ludogorets successfully defended their title with 4 rounds to spare, and finished 14 points clear of Lokomotiv Plovdiv. They were 12 points clear after the regular 26 game season, losing two matches, and clinched the title in the first of the 5 Championship play-off rounds. With the title secured, Ludogorets lost three of their last 4 matches.

Ludogorets started the 2020/21 season badly, losing the Super Cup to Lokomotiv Plovdiv and the first match of the season 1-3 at unfancied Botev Vratsa. However, in the 25 subsequent regular league matches, they lost only once more ( 2-3 at Lokomotiv Plovdiv in February )

In the Champions League, Ludogorets won 3-1 against FK Buducnost in Montenegro, then lost 0-1 at home to FC Midtjylland. Dropping down to the Europa League play-off, Dinamo Brest were beaten in Belarus to qualify for the Group stages, where they lost all 6 matches. Tottenham, Antwerp and LASK Graz were the opponents.

Current Season : The new Bulgarian Parva Liga does not start until 24^th July, so Ludogorets have only played friendlies in preparation for the tie against Shakhtyor, drawing 1-1 with Cluj from Romania, losing 1-3 to Ferencvaros, and beating LASK 3-0. All matches were played at neutral venues

Squad :

Teams in Bulgaria can register five non-EU nationals in their squad, but only three can be part of the match-day squad. Non-EU nationals with EU ancestry can claim dual nationality, whilst those with no EU ancestry can claim Bulgarian citizenship after five years in Bulgaria.

Ludogorets have been busy in the close season transfer market. Their new signings include Suriname international defender Shaquille Pinas, the permanent signing of Bernard Tekpetey who was previously on loan from Schalke, goalkeeper Sergio Padt, midfielder Claude Goncalves from Gil Vincente, Ukrainian centre back Igor Plastun from Genk, Romanian forward Dorin Rotariu and Kiril Despodov after a loan from Cagliari.

Departures during last season and in the close season include ex Manchester City Youth and Guinea Bissau winger Jorginho, currently on loan to Egyptian side Wadi Dagla, 36 year old midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov has joined Pirin Blagoevgrad after over 300 appearances for the club and Brazilian goalkeeper Renan has been released. Romanian centre-back Cosmin Moti retired after 296 appearances for the club and veteran Romanian centre-back Dragos Grigore joined Rapid Bucharest.

Current Bulgarian Internationals :

Plamen Iliev : goalkeeper ( 29 ) – 19 caps, ex Levski Sofia and Astra Giurgiu

Anton Nedyalkov : left back/centre back ( 28 ) – 19 caps

Cincinho : right back ( 32 ) – 7 caps ( Brazilian born but now a naturalised citizen ) Ex-Santos

Georgi Terziev : centre back ( 29 ) – 16 caps

Kiril Despodov : forward ( 24 ) – 20 caps and national team captain. Ex-Cagliari and Sturm Graz

Dominik Yankov : midfield ( 20 ) – 6 caps, born in Canada and also lived in Sunderland

Ex Bulgarian Internationals/Other Domestic Players :

Vladislav Stoyanov : goalkeeper ( 33 ) – 19 caps

Wanderson : midfield ( 33 ) – 6 caps ( Brazilian born but now a naturalised citizen ). Signed in 2014.

Ivan Yordanov : midfielder ( 20 )

Foreign Internationals

Stephane Badji : Senegalese midfielder ( 31 ) – 16 caps, ex Anderlecht

Claudiu Kesuru : Romanian striker ( 34 ) - 42 caps, ex Nantes. Top scorer last season with 18 league goals and 139 in total for Ludogorets

Bernard Tekpetey : Ghanaian forward ( 23 ) – 2 caps, ex Schalke.

Mavis Tchibota : Congolese forward ( 25 ) – 4 caps, ex Bnei Yehuda. 10 goals in all competitions last season

Anicet Abel : Madagascan midfielder ( 31 ) – 17 caps.

Jordan Ikoho : DR Congo defender ( 27 ) – 7 caps, ex Paris St Germain & Guingamp

Olivier Verdon : Benin defender ( 25 ) – 20 caps, ex Alaves, Bordeaux and Eupen

Shaquille Pinas : Suriname defender ( 23 ) – 4 caps, ex den Haag

Pieros Sotirou : Cypriot forward ( 28 ) – 44 caps, ex Astana, FC Copenhagen and APOEL Nicosia.

Dorin Rotariu : Romanian forward ( 25 ) – 10 caps, ex Astana, AZ Alkmaar, Club Brugge and Dinamo Bucharest

Ihor Platsun : Ukrainian midfielder ( 30 ) – 4 caps, ex Gent and Karpaty Lviv.

Other Foreign Players

Sergio Padt : Dutch goal-keeper ( 31 ), ex Gent and Groningen.

Cauly Oliviera : Brazilian midfielder ( 25 ), ex Paderborn, MSV Duisburg & Fortuna Koln

Josue Sa : Portuguese defender ( 29 ) – ex Anderlecht

Alex Santana : Brazilian midfielder ( 26 ), ex Botafogo

Claude Goncalves : Portuguese midfielder ( 27 ) ex Gil Vincente,

Higinio Marin : Spanish forward ( 27 ), ex Numancia

Elvis Manu : Dutch/Ghanaian winger ( 27 ), ex Feyenoord, Brighton &, Huddersfield

Kristjian Kahlina : Croatian keeper ( 28 ) ex Gorica

Summary :

After a poor showing in the Europa League in 2020/21, the new signings look on paper to have to have marginally strengthened the Bulgaria champions, who looked a cut above the Belarus champions last season. Whilst there are more Bulgarians in the squad, they are still reliant on journeyman Brazilians, promising Africans and discarded players with a point to prove. Veteran Romanian striker Claudiu Kesuru remains the class act up front.

However, they meet Shakhtyor without having played a competitive fixture whereas Shakhtyor are almost halfway through their season and possess an impressive 13-1-0 record. They are certainly a more formidable opponent than Dinamo Brest last season, and in Gambian striker Dembo Darboe have a serious threat upfront, with 13 goals since signing from North Macedonian side Shkupi. Igor Stasevich is arguably one of the best footballers ever produced by Belarus, and although clearly at the veteran stage of his career there are signs that he is starting to reproduce his best form since his move from BATE and then an injury early in the season.

Midfielder Yuri Kendysh is a key player for Shakhtyor, whilst Albanian midfielder Valon Ahmedi has impressed since joining from Shkendija, another North Macedonian side. Serbian left wing-back Nikola Antic is often dangerous going forward and Slovak Julius Szoke plays an important role as the holding midfielder.

Igor Filipenko has strengthened the back four since signing from BATE but if Shakhtyor have a weak link it is goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor. Despite being a regular in the national team, where he has made some high profile errors, he does not inspire confidence, is weak in the air, and it always feels as if a big ricket is about to happen. Fortunately, the dominance of Shakhtyor in most games, and having a solid back four in front of him have shielded him this season, Back-up keeper Sergei Chernik impressed at Gorodeya last season and in his limited opportunities so far this year, and may get his chance for an extended run soon. Having said that Gutor will probably play a blinder against Ludogorets !

Ludogorets are 3/10 favourites with Bet365. Shakhtyor are 6/1 and the draw 7/2

Tickets for the matches are on sale on Ludogorets' website for between 8 to 15 Lev ( ( £3.50 to £6.60 ) and the weather is forecast to be 27 degrees at the 20.00 local time kick-off, with a 40% chance of rain.

Due to the political restrictions around travel from the EU to Belarus the return leg is being played at the Cukarici stadium in Belgrade on July 13^th

 

 

Review of Moldova Divizia Nationala 2021/22 Season – Round 1

July 1 & 2, 2021

Thursday July 1, 2021

FC Floresti 0-1 CS Petrocub Hincesti

Sheriff Tiraspol 0-1 FC Balti ( att : 1,000 )

Friday July 2, 2021

FC Zimbru Chisinau 3-0 Dinamo Auto ( att : 300  )

FC Milsami-Orhei 1-1 Sfintul Gheorghe ( att : 500 )

Petrocub started the season with an encouraging away win at Floresti. All of the their starting XI from their match at Sheriff reviewed by these diaries in March were part of their match day squad for this game, and they were strengthened by three additions from Dacia Buiucani. the side who had voluntarily requested relegation for financial reasons after finishing 5^th in the 2020/21 league table.

Darius Iosipo, who has 2 caps and was at loan at second level Russian side Veles Moscow, as well as Under 21internationals Ioan Revenco and Cornelieu Cotogoi all started, and added to the emphasis on Moldovan internationals in their squad.

Despite their 6 point deduction, the Floresti line-up looked pretty similar to the end of the previous season. There was actually very little to distinguish between the two sides and only Platica’s glanced header early in the second half from a cross from Potirniche separated the two sides/ Although Petrocub dominated the last 30 minutes they were unable to extend their lead.

 

Newly promoted FC Balti caused a huge upset in their debut match in the Divizia Nationala with a totally unexpected victory at Champions Sheriff, whose last home league defeat was in April 2019. Before the game Sheriff announced the signed of Guinean striker Momo Yansane, an ex-Isloch Minsk favourite in Belarus. He did not figure in this match, but will no doubt be expecting to contribute towards a championship medal.

Nigerian youngster Emmanuel Araribe gave Balti the lead in the 18^th minute with a stunning strike from just outside the penalty area. Sheriff totally dominated the rest of the match bur found Balti keeper Nazarciuc in inspired form, and he made one outstanding save from Sheriff’ top scorer from last season, Casteneda, who surprisingly started on the bench. Balti rattled up 6 yellow cards, three of which came in the last 10 minutes as they battled to keep Sheriff at bay.

The Balti line-up included two Argentinians ( 37 year old journeyman Ruben Gomes and Alvaro Bely ), a Brazilian ( Wellington Tiara ) and a Ukrainian ( Segey Molochko ). Sheriff started with 10 different nationalities.

 

In 2000 I saw Zimbru, former giants of Moldovan football, play Sparta Prague in a Champions League Qualifier and lose 0-1 against a side including Tomas Rosicky, in front of a crowd of 8,588. They look to be in for a much better season than last season where they struggled against relegation. Based on the evidence of their first match of the season, where they easily beat Dinamo-Auto 3-0, they should not be one of the divisions strugglers. 

After Neagu headed against the bar early on, veteran striker Eugen Siderenco thought he has marked his return from Albanian side Vllazina with two goals on his debut, but his first effort was subsequently recorded as an own goal. A goal from defender Alexei Ciopra sealed the victory, much to the delight of Zimbru’s hard core fans.

 

As expected the match between Milsami-Orhei and Sfintul Gheorghe, last season’s third and fourth place teams, was a close affair. Milsami took the lead in the 18^th minute through international midfielder Radu Ginsari’s fine left-footed side-footed effort from just inside the penalty area. The visitors responded strongly and created a number of chances, the most notable in the 37^th minute being a miss from close range by Petru Ojog, whose downward header somehow bounced over the bar. The equaliser eventually came from the penalty spot, awarded in the 62^nd minute for a handball, Victor Stina sent the keeper the wrong way.

Milsami almost gifted a winner to Sfintul Gheorghe when keeper Timbur cleared a back-pass straight to Solodovnicov but the forward was so surprised he failed to control it. Litviakov and Solodovnicov both missed great chances to win the game as the visitors dominated the closing stages, and they may feel this was 2 points dropped.

 

The next round of games are scheduled for the weekend of July 17^th , with the pick of the matches being Petrocub hosting Sheriff.