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

While Ludogorets returned to competitive action at the weekend after a winter break, Servette's last action was a league defeat to Yverdon-Sport.

Match preview

Currently second in the Swiss Super League behind Young Boys, Servette are looking to put their weekend loss in the league behind them as they concentrate on taking a first leg advantage in Europe.

Their last game ended in a 2-1 defeat to Yverdon-Sport, with the Maroons finishing the match with nine men after seeing two players sent off.

Servette are second in the Swiss league, eight points behind Young Boys who are top of the league.

The Maroons have played five league games since resuming from the winter break, kicking off the year with a 1-1 draw against Winterthur.

They followed it with three consecutive wins, 1-0 over Yverdon-Sport, 2-0 against St. Gallen and a 3-1 victory over Stade Ls Ouchy, before the defeat last weekend.

With the burning desire to bounce back, Rene Weiler's side have an opportunity to do so against Ludogorets, in what will be their first knockout game in Europe since 1978-79.

Servette have won both of their previous European home games against Bulgarian sides, but both of those matches were in the last century.

Having finished third behind Slavia Praha and AS Roma with a considerable distance in Europa League Group G, the Swiss club dropped to the Conference League where they now look to go all the way for the first European trophy in their history.

The Bulgarian side will fancy themselves as favourites here too, given that they are now back in the groove of competitive action following a penalty shoot-out win over CSKA Sofia in the Bulgarian Super Cup.

Georgi Dermendzhiev's men are currently second in the Bulgarian domestic league as well, three points behind leaders Cherno More having played a game less.

Despite being a dominant force in Bulgaria, the Eagles are not quite hitting the same heights in Europe as they continue the search for their maiden continental trophy.

The Eagles finished as runners-up in Conference League Group H, tied on 12 points with group winners Fenerbahce.

This will be a second knockout playoff tie for the Bulgarian side in this competition. They lost to Anderlecht via penalties after a 2-2 draw over both legs the last time.

Servette form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

W

L

Ludogorets Razgrad Europa Conference League form:

W

L

L

W

W

W

Ludogorets Razgrad form(all competitions):

Team News

Servette will be without David Douline for this game, as he currently nurses a muscle injury.

Enzo Crivelli is expected to spearhead the attack, with Alexis Antunes in the supporting role.

Timothe Cognat and Gael Ondoua will play in central midfield, providing support for the defense and starting attacks.

Meanwhile, the visitors are expected to line up with a three-man attack that includes Kwadwo Duah, Bernard Tekpetey and Spas Delev.

Jakub Piotrowski, who is the club's top scorer in the Conference League this season with four goals, is expected to start in midfield alongside Pedro Narressi.

Servette possible starting lineup:

Frick; Tsunemoto, Severin, Magnin, Mazikou; Kutesa, Ondua, Cognat, Bolla; Antunes; Crivelli

Ludogorets Razgrad possible starting lineup:

Padt; Son, Verdon, Sundberg, Witry; Piotrowski, Naressi, Vidal; Tekpetey, Delev, Duah

We say: Servette 1-1 Ludogorets Razgrad

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