Champions League, Qualification, 2nd Round, Tuesday, 22.07.2025 at 20:45
In my opinion, there is no more interesting game in this second round of Champions League qualifying to use the magnificent Bet365 bonus than this one!
However, a Rijeka Ludogorez Rasgrad tip is my top betting priority on Tuesday because I see the Croatians winning comfortably at home!
It’s worth taking a closer look at the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Ludogorez Rasgrad, the Bulgarian serial champions who have virtually monopolized the national title for years, are facing a Croatian team that has had a season for the history books.
Rijeka secured the Croatian championship for only the second time in the club’s history – and did so in one of the most dramatic season finales Balkan soccer has ever seen.
In a three-way battle with Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split, Rijeka ultimately prevailed despite finishing level on points, crowning a remarkable season with the coveted title.
The key to success: aggressive play, tremendous willingness to run, and some strong individual players who could also cause a stir in Europe.
But beware: Ludogorez is experienced in international competition and has regularly played in the Champions League or Europa League in the past. The Bulgarians are considered extremely difficult opponents, especially at home.
The question now is: Can Rijeka carry its momentum from last season into this one, or will Ludogorez’s experience prevail? It promises to be a fiery duel between two evenly matched sides and is already one of the highlights of the second qualifying round.
In terms of current form, I see Rijeka as having a slight advantage, even though they have not yet played a competitive match in the new season.
However, HNK has at least built up a decent rhythm and won three of its five test matches in a fairly relaxed preparation program.
The team impressed above all with its team spirit, a clear game plan, and the ability to find solutions even in tight games.
The situation is completely different for Ludogorez Rasgrad. The Bulgarian serial champions have been unable to build any real momentum so far this summer. They have failed to win any of their four friendly matches, losing two and drawing two.
And even if the pre-season program was significantly more challenging, with opponents such as FC Copenhagen (0-0) and Legia Warsaw (2-2), the performances have been pretty disappointing overall.
I don’t attach much significance to last weekend’s 5-0 victory over PFC Septemvri Sofia in the domestic league opener due to the modest strength of the opposition.
Things got really sobering for the Bulgarians in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
There, Razgrad struggled to get past Dinamo Minsk – an opponent that, with a squad value of just under €7 million, they should have been able to dominate with ease.
But in both the first leg (1-0) and the second leg (2-2 after extra time), there was never really a feeling that Razgrad was in control.
Only a late goal from Eric Bile in extra time saved the “Eagles” from a penalty shootout – and possibly from a major embarrassment.
The question arises as to whether the curse is striking again. Ludogorez has not successfully qualified for the Champions League since the 2016/17 season. Time and again, their run has come to an end in the third round or the playoff final at the latest.
If the performance against Dinamo Minsk was anything to go by, then it could be a really close call against Rijeka – and for the Bulgarian champions, the clash against the in-form Croatians is anything but a walk in the park.
As for promising Rijeka Ludogorez Rasgrad bets at a bookmaker with fast payouts – after all, everyone wants to see their winnings transferred to their bank account as quickly as possible – I have two very specific predictions for you.
“Rijeka will advance” at odds of around 1.80 is my first tip. After all, I am convinced that the Croatians will get the job done in the first leg.
I also like the selection “Half-time/Full-time 1/1” at odds of around 340% of your stake.
This Rijeka Ludogorez Rasgrad tip is particularly promising if the Bulgarians actually perform on Tuesday as they did in their first-round return leg against Dinamo Minsk.
Conclusion: Ludogorez Rasgrad has not yet integrated its new signings well enough into the system to win such a difficult away game as the one in Rijeka.
The Bulgarians did not look well-rehearsed enough recently, especially in the final third, where they still lack precision and pace.
On the other hand, I expect Rijeka to put in a committed performance in front of their home crowd. In any case, I think the current home win odds are far too generous to turn down – I’m definitely going for that in the Bet365 app!
However, my top pick is: HNK over 1.5 goals!
