Preview: Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

The two Group C rivals meet on the Europa League's opening day, with only the eventual group winners guaranteed safe passage to the last 16.

Match preview

Greeted with great fervour upon their arrival back in the Eternal City, Roma finally lifted a European trophy after decades of waiting, when in May, they edged past Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final.

The Giallorossi also finished sixth in Serie A at the end of Jose Mourinho's first season in charge, and therefore earned a step-up to Europe's second-tier club tournament.

After a lightning start to the new domestic season, Roma sat tied at the top of the standings before their Sunday night encounter with Udinese, and had gone unbeaten through their first four league fixtures.

However, it all came unravelled at the Dacia Arena, as their hosts tore into Mourinho's men on the counter and sent them home nursing bruised egos after a 4-0 defeat.

Before that capitulation, Roma had conceded just a solitary goal this term, and with a strikeforce now featuring Paulo Dybala, Nicolo Zaniolo and Tammy Abraham - when all are fit and well - they certainly pose a threat at the other end.

Having lost by four goals or more for just the third time in his long and illustrious career, Mourinho - seemingly reinvigorated since his switch back to Italy - will now demand an immediate response from his squad, which may be substantially rotated following such a shocking setback.

Awaiting Roma on the first matchday will be Ludogorets, who along with Real Betis and HJK Helsinki make up an eclectic Group C, from which only the top team go through automatically - the runners-up enter a playoff against Champions League drop-outs, while third-place-finishers drop down to the Conference League.

Crowned Bulgarian champions again last season - for the 11th time in a row - the Razgrad club have become a regular fixture in European competition. Incidentally, they have won one and lost four of six previous games against Italian opposition.

Having taken part in the Europa League during both of the last two seasons, after falling short in Champions League qualifying, the same fate befell Ante Simundza's side this year, when they were ultimately eliminated from the latter by Dinamo Zagreb.

Subsequently, they came through a playoff tie with Zalgiris, by virtue of a last-gasp winner in extra time at the end of the second leg, and so find themselves welcoming Roma to the Ludogorets Arena this week.

A total of 19 points from their first seven First League fixtures puts the Eagles second in the domestic standings, with two games still in hand due to numerous European commitments throughout the summer - and their latest league success came on Sunday, with a 6-0 thrashing of Hebar 1918.

Previously, star striker Kiril Despodov scored twice in the Bulgarian Super Cup final to push Levski Sofia to penalties, where Ludogorets came out on top - so confidence will be high in the camp ahead of Thursday's continental contest.

Ludogorets Razgrad Europa League form:

Ludogorets Razgrad form (all competitions):

Roma form (all competitions):

Team News

Jose Mourinho may make several changes to his starting XI on Thursday, considering both the need to manage workload and his team's awful showing against Udinese last time out.

Roma's top Conference League scorer on last season's road to Tirana, Tammy Abraham, will be sidelined after injuring his left shoulder in an awkward fall at the Dacia Arena. Meanwhile, Nicolo Zaniolo and longer-term absentee Georginio Wijnaldum are still unavailable.

Wing-back duo Leonardo Spinazzola and Rick Karsdorp could drop to the bench in Razgrad, with Nicola Zalewski and Zeki Celik replacing them, while Paulo Dybala may be rested; Eldor Shomurodov or Stephan El Shaarawy would then step into the side.

In Abraham's absence up front, Andrea Belotti is set to be handed his first start for the Giallorossi since joining at the end of last month.

The hosts generally set out in a 4-3-3 formation, with Kiril Despodov featuring as part of the forward trio, alongside Brazilian striker Thiago.

Croatian goalkeeper Simon Sluga, who recently joined Ludogorets from Luton Town, will compete with Sergio Padt to be their last line of defence, while veteran full-back Cicinho should start on the right of Ante Simundza's back four.

Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:

Sluga; Cicinho, Gropper, Verdon, Nedyalkov; Piotrowski, Rick, Yordanov; Tekpetey, Thiago, Despodov

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Camara, Cristante, Zalewski; Pellegrini, El Shaarawy; Belotti

We say: Ludogorets Razgrad 1-1 Roma

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