Ludogorets vs Celta Prediction 28 November 2025

🔈 Can the "Celts" live up to their favorite status in the showdown at Huvepharma Arena? One of the standout fixtures of the UEFA Europa League's Matchday 5 features a clash between Bulgarian side Ludogorets and Spain's Celta in Razgrad. The "Sky Blues" are optimistic about their prospects in this European competition—a victory in the upcoming match would solidify their position within the top eight of the standings. Meanwhile, the Bulgarians are struggling with a lack of quality and currently find themselves outside the playoff spots. Bookmakers anticipate a victory for the visitors, giving them threefold odds.

Head-to-Head

📊 The clubs have not faced each other before.

Ludogorets Team Overview

🟢 Following their 2-1 victory over Malmö in the opening round of the Europa League, the "Eagles" have suffered three consecutive defeats, dropping them to 30th in the standings. Let's note the Bulgarian club's scoring stats in this season's European tournament: they average 1.25 goals scored and concede 2.25 goals per match. Ludogorets' top scorer in the current Europa League campaign is Petar Stanic, with two goals. He has quickly cemented his status as a key player and become an integral part of the team's tactical setup.

📌 Notably, Ludogorets are also struggling to produce consistent results in their domestic league. After 15 rounds, the "Eagles" have accumulated only 27 points, trailing league leaders Levski by 11 points. The instability and high risk of a lost season have been major factors leading to a coaching change. As of November 21, Per-Mathias Høgmo has taken over as head coach of the Bulgarian side. The Swedish coach previously had a less than stellar stint at Molde, winning only 41% of his matches. Whether he can elevate Ludogorets to new heights remains to be seen.

Celta de Vigo Team Overview

🔵 The team from Vigo has found it challenging to approach matches this season in peak condition. The issue lies in the fact that the "Celts" lack extensive experience in European competitions in recent years, and playing two matches a week often causes the "Sky Blues" significant difficulties. In the current UEFA Europa League campaign, the "Celts" have been quite successful—after a loss to Stuttgart (1-2) in the opening round, they've strung together three consecutive victories. Currently, Celta sit in 4th place in the group standings, with a strong chance of advancing to the playoffs. Claudio Giráldez places great emphasis on his team's gameplay, which allows them to perform effectively in defense.

📌 Last weekend, Celta lifted their fans' spirits with an away victory over Alavés (1-0). This success enabled the "Celts" to climb to 12th place in the La Liga standings. This season, Claudio Giráldez's squad has shown significant progress in defensive play—the club manages to contain even well-organized attacking lines, and their discipline in midfield allows them to occupy smart positions on the pitch, achieving systematic play as a result. Celta's most prolific player this season is Borja Iglesias, who has scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists across all competitions.

Latest news

Ludogorets

📰 Ludogorets' new head coach, Per-Mathias Høgmo, addressed the media during his introduction: “I'm pleased to see you all. The last time I was in Bulgaria was in 2014 with the Norwegian national team. It's a great honor for me to lead such a prominent club in Scandinavia and Europe. Many people ask me about the secret to this team's success. I realized what it is when I saw the infrastructure and facilities here. I've worked at the national level for many years. I arrived late last night—actually, at 4:30 in the morning—and held my first training session today. The conditions we train in are impressive. When you've been successful for so long, sometimes you have to endure challenges; this can happen for various reasons. We have several injured players. Playing two matches a week is tough. I've seen many talented and intriguing high-level players. My coaching staff and I want to build strong connections with them. When someone gets injured, we need to find a replacement.”

❌ Among Ludogorets' injured players, Edin Kurtulus (leg injury) and Georgi Terziev (knee injury) stand out.

Celta de Vigo

📰 Recent reports reveal that Celta's management has successfully negotiated a new contract with a key defensive player. Javier Rueda has inked a deal that extends until 2029. Having trained at the youth academies of Malaga and Real Madrid, Rueda made his top-flight debut with the "Sky Blues" at the tail end of the season before last. Last season, the defender was on loan at Albacete Balompié, which allowed him to continue his development before returning to the first team. His physical conditioning, pace, and ability to track back make him a complete defender, fully adapted to modern football.

❌ Celta's injury list includes Williot Swedberg (ankle injury) and Carlos Dominguez (ankle injury).

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The officiating team for this European competition clash will be led by Balázs Berke. Notably, over his last 10 matches, the Hungarian referee has averaged a staggering 29 fouls per game, with an average of 4.7 yellow cards. Our editorial team anticipates that the referee will maintain strict control, swiftly penalizing any excessive roughness. Our pick is over 4.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goal Prediction

In 5 of Celta's last 7 matches, there have been at least 3 goals scored. A similar trend is evident for Ludogorets over the same period. Let's note the average goal-scoring rate for each team in the current edition of the second-tier European tournament: Ludogorets at 3.5 and Celta at 3.3. Our editorial choice is over 2 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

We'll base our bet on current statistical trends. In 7 of Ludogorets' last 9 matches, there have been no more than 10 corner kicks. A similar pattern is seen in Celta's previous 6 games. In the current Europa League campaign, each team averages just 4 corners per game. Our selection is Ludogorets' individual total corners under 4.5.

Neither club is known for their defensive prowess—while Celta have shown noticeable progress, the packed schedule prevents them from finding consistency. Ludogorets will aim to display their best football, as each player needs to prove themselves to the newly appointed head coach. Our editorial team anticipates a dynamic match with plenty of goal-scoring opportunities. A final score of 1-2 seems likely. The key bet is on total over 2 goals.