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Defending champions Real Madrid are off to Bulgaria for their second group stage game, against debutants, Ludogorets Razgrad.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have come a long way since their stuttering start and will be buoyed by several big victories in all competitions. Ludogorets, on the other hand, made Liverpool slog for a narrow 2-1 win on the opening day and are absolutely euphoric about staging a Champions League game on home turf for the first time in their history.
Venue
Ludogorets Arena, Ludogorets' home base, will host the fixture and has a capacity to accomodate 8,000 spectators.
Kick-off timings
00:15 (IST) – Oct 2, 2014
Probable Line-ups
Ludogorets: Defenders Alexandre Barthe and Georgi Tarziev are doubtful as they are still fighting injuries whereas Spanish winger Abalo Paulos, who scored against Liverpool 2 weeks back, will once again start on the bench.
Probable starting line-up: Borjan; Caicara, A.Aleksandrov, Moti, Minev; M.Aleksandrov, Dyakov, Anicet, Misidjan; Bezjak, Marcelinho.
Real Madrid: Sami Khedira (Thigh) and Jese Rodriguez (Knee) are the 2 casualties along with Fabio Coentrao whereas centre-back Pepe will return from a muscle problem.
Probable line-up: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, James, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Key match facts and stats
Real Madrid have won 4 of their last 6 matches away from home and have lost only 1 in the Champions League.
Ludogorets were unbeaten at home for 4 games in the UEFA Europa League this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo is just 2 goals away from equalising Raul's 71 goal haul in the Champions League.
Key battles
Sergio Ramos vs Roman Bezjak
Ramos was an integral part of the squad that went on to win the much coveted 'La Decima' last season and once again takes up his position at the back. Although the Spaniard has a pretty bad disciplinary record, he has established himself as one of the world's best centre-backs and will try to burnish those credentials when he'll be up against Roman Bezjak.
The Slovenian international bagged 2 goals in 5 qualifying games but Real represent a different level of opposition.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Cosmin Moti
The Portuguese has been at his ferocious best this season, netting 13 goals in all competitions aready and will look to continue the same as he will have his eyes firmly set on reaching yet another milestone - the all time top scorer’s position in Europe's elite competition.
Romanian international Cosmin Moti is well aware of what he's up against and will be assigned with one of the toughest tasks of stopping Ronaldo.
Prediction
Considering the rampaging form that Ancelotti's side have been in of late, Ludogorets may stare down the barrel even before the match starts and all the zest about their first ever Champions League game at home may well turn into a foregone ordeal.
Predicted scoreline: Ludogorets Razgrad 0-4 Real Madrid
