Champions League Qual.: Rijeka – Ludogorets 22/07/2025
Betting on goals
First leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.
Croatian champions Rijeka are clear favorites in this matchup, and at odds above 2.00, the home win looks appealing. Their main concern, however, is lack of match sharpness — this will be their first official game of the season, making it unlikely they’ll hit peak performance levels.
Ludogorets, on the other hand, appears to have lost a lot in terms of quality. They still manage in the low-level Bulgarian league, but struggle in European competition. In the previous round, they needed extra time to eliminate a weak Dinamo Minsk side — a team that wasn’t even allowed to host its home leg in Belarus.
The presence of a second leg reduces the incentive to take risks. Rijeka may be the stronger side, but their lack of rhythm is a factor, and Ludogorets is likely to play conservatively. While Rijeka’s qualification at odds over 1.90 looks like a solid longer-term pick, for this first leg, the under stands out as the better betting option.