Viktoria Plzen is coming into this match playing in good form in their recent matches. They do not have a win in their last 3 matches, but prior to that they had won 7 of their last 8 matches with no losses in that span. They have 1 loss and 2 draws in their last 3 matches, but their loss came away from home against Slavia Praha who is the best team in their domestic league. That match was also right before a Europa League match that they had to travel to Germany for. They ended up with an impressive result in their last Europa League match, drawing 3-3 with Frankfurt away from home in a match they were trailing 3-1 with 5 mins to go. Now they are coming off of a 1-1 draw at home against Mlada Boleslav, but that was also a sandwich match between their 2 Europa League matches. That 3-3 draw in their 1st match was very impressive and this is a competition they are highly focused on after their performance in Europe last season so they have set themselves up in a very good position if they can get 3 points from this home match. They are going up against a Ludogorets side that has been in very good form in their recent matches, winning 4 of their last 5 matches, but their 1 loss in that span came in their 1st Europa League match. They lost at home to Slavia Praha 2-0 and they were completely dominated in that match as well. Ludogorets is dominant in their domestic league, but they have not been dominant in Europe recently. They even struggled in the qualifiers as they were in Champions League qualifiers and lost both of their away legs in the first 2 rounds. They finally won their away leg 2-1 against Qarabag in their 3rd round of qualifying, but they came home and lost the 2nd leg 7-2, struggling against stronger opponents. Viktoria Plzen was very impressive in their 1st match to come away with that away draw against a stronger opponent and they have been impressive with their defense all season and throughout the qualifiers for this competition. They are not going to sit back in this match with a chance to get a win at home and set themselves up with 4 points after 2 matches since every point matters in this new jumbled League Phase. Viktoria Plzen will win this match at home and collect all 3 points here.
UEFA Europa League: Viktoria Plzen ML, Rot. 224442