Ludogorets Razgrad vs Dinamo Minsk prediction 24.07.2024 | Champions League

• Competition: Champions League Qualifiers, 2nd Round, 1st Leg
• Date: Wednesday, 24th July, 2024
• Kickoff: 19:00 UK / 20:00 CEST
• Venue: Huvepharma Arena (Razgrad)

After successfully eliminating their opponents in the first round of the Champions League Qualifiers, Belorusian champ Dinamo Minsk will face off against Bulgarian champ Ludogorets in the second round. The first leg will take place at Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad.

Ludogorets Razgrad have been super-dominant in Bulgaria for more than a decade, winning 13 titles in a row! When it comes to Europe, Ludogorets were pretty successful, at least by Balkan standards, as they constantly secured the Group phase. However, the last time they did it in the Champions League was back in the 2016/17 season when they finished 3rd in a really tough group with Arsenal, PSG, and Basel. This year, the team suffered only minor changes, and since they kept the core of the team, Ludogorets have every reason to be optimistic about their chances to reach the CL Group phase.

Dinamo Minsk managed to win the Belarusian title last year after almost two decades, as their previous title was back in 2004. This year, after 15 rounds, Dinamo once again looks like the best or one of the best teams in the country. Right now, they are 1st with 35 points and zero lost games. In Europe, Dinamo Minsk pretty regularly appeared in European Qualifiers but recently struggled to come out of the 2nd or 3rd Qualifying Round. The last time they managed to secure the Group phase was in 2015/16 when they played in the Europa League but finished last in the group with Viktoria Plzen, Rapid Wien, and Villarreal. Now, the bookies see Dinamo Minsk as a big underdog to reach the 3rd round, offering odds between 3.5 and 3.9 on that bet.

Ludogorets Razgrad vs Dinamo Minsk pick: Under 2.5 goals

Ludogorets played three official games this season and were under 2.5 goals in two of them while scoring four goals - 1.3 per game. They are generally a team that plays much better at home, especially defensively. In the previous two seasons, they kept a clean sheet in nine of 16 home (European) games, and we expect they can do the same against Dinamo Minsk.

In the first round, against Pynik Yerevan, Dinamo Minsk won 1:0 on aggregate. The only goal scored was from the penalty spot. So, if they struggled to score against the Armenian champions, it is hard to expect goals against Ludogorets away from home. Additionally, Dinamo Minsk has been impressive defensively this season, allowing only eight goals in 15 league games - 0.53 per game.

Although we believe Ludogorets to be a better team, we do not trust them enough to bet on them to cover the -1/1.5 spread. Considering all the above, we think that an under 2.5 goals bet should be the safest option for this match.