Razgrad, Bulgaria – E be like say Ludogorets don wahala for their Europa League campaign, as dem dey prepare to face Celta Vigo for Huvepharma Arena dis Thursday evening. E go be battle of the giants as Ludogorets dey struggle for table while Celta dey sit pretty for top four. Wetin go happen? (You sabi say drama dey always follow European matches, abi?)
Ludogorets don vex, as dem get just one win out of four for dis European season, losing three, and their goal difference na -4 (dem score just five and concede nine). Last time wey dem play Europa League, dem collect 3-1 from Ferencvaros, and e no sweet at all. Although dem show some resilience with 2-0 victory over Septemvri Sofia for league game, na foreign matches be dem headache! (Dem go need strong ginger to survive dis one.)
Now dem dey approach dis game under new management. Na new coach wey dem bring in go replace Rui Mota after him disappoint dem. Norwegian tactician dey come with hope to steady the ship and put belief for the players. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo don dey shine like morning star for dis season, gathering nine points from four matches (three wins and just one loss). Dem dey come with better +5 goal difference, as dem don score nine and concede only four. Last match, dem whip Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. (Na wetin dem call complete package. Celta dey enter.)
Aus dem enjoy five wins from last seven matches, e no get wetin fit stop dem as dem face dis crucial match. Celta don also sabi play well for away matches despite say dem get one win and one loss. (Dem gree say no be all those ‘traveling blues’ dem dey experience.) Coach dey lead dem with progressive style wey dey involve pressing, quick passing and use of flanks. Dem dey look like dem ready for battle as dem come with confidence.
But e no go be jolly ride for Ludogorets because dem dey miss some players. One key player dey out due to knee injury and another dey miss out because of cruciate ligament wahala. Also, one player don collect two yellow cards for the competition and e go need to watch him back, otherwise, suspension dey wait for am. No wahala, dem still get Petar Stanic, and dem go fit rely on Yves Erick Bile to lead dem for the front.
On the other side, Celta dey face some injury issues too. One of their key players dey out with muscle injury and another dey struggle with thigh injury. Coach go shake up him squad small to fit manage the absences but e no go easy. The bench get players like Radu, Alonso, and Aspas, wey dey ready to show say dem no be pushovers.
As we dey wait for dis intriguing encounter, one thing wey sure be say if Celta fit score first, dem go carry the match gingerly to the finish line. Ludogorets get work to do to turn hin story around as dem still dey find their way for European turf. Make we all sit down dey watch because dis one go sweet pass palm wine and suya! (No forget say na football we dey talk so no paddy paddy wahala, abeg!)
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