Ludogorets lost 0:1 to Zurich, which was their second loss in the Europa League A group. The champions were not able to win a single point in both games.

The big change in the team was accidental, because the scorer Keseru had the flu and the new recruit Brandao took his place. The other ten players formed the same composition as in the group phase game against Bayer Leverkusen, which ended with a 2:3 score.

Ludogorets had their first goal opportunity in the 15th minute when Wanderson passed to Nedyalkov, but he was not able to receive the ball and it went to Marcelinho, whose attempt was not accurate. The home team responded and Kololi sent a powerful shot towards Renan from the foul point. Ludogorets had all the luck here and the ball was off the target. Renan passed the ball to Brandao in the 26th minute and he outplayed Bangura, after which he passed to Marcelinho. The ace player failed to kick the ball at first, but did it with his left foot in his second attempt but he was not accurate. Wanderson passed to Brandao in the end of the first part, but he barely managed to send it out.

Ludogorets were aggressive when the second part began and in the 54th minute Marcelinho found himself in a good position, but he decided to go for it instead of passing the ball and it went out as a result. Natanael sent the ball towards the gate in the 60th minute, but his beautiful attempt was off the target. Kololli tried to score from the foul point again in the 67th minute, but Renan saved. Zurich won the game in the 84th minute after Moti returned the ball to Renan, after which a corner shot followed. Kololli and Rodriguez passed the ball to each other and a pass to Palsson followed. The Icelandic player was unprotected and Renan had no chance.

The game was a historic one for Bulgarian football. Moti and Dyakov reached Hristo Yovov’s achievement of playing a total of 66 games in the European tournaments as a part of a Bulgarian team. The Romanian has 66 games with Ludogorets and 29 more with Dinamo (Bucharest). Dyakov has a total of 65 games with Ludogorets and one as a Lokomotiv (Sofia) player.

ZURICH - LUDOGORETS 1:0

1:0 Palsson (84′)

Zurich: Breher, Maxso, Bangura, Nef, Palsson, Ruegg, Domgjoni, Kryeziu, Schoenbechler (71 – Rodriguez), Kololli, Odey (81 – Sise)

Ludogorets: Renan, Nedyalkov, Moti, Wanderson, Campanharo, Dyakov (70 – Goralski), Lukoki, Natanael, Cicinho, Brandao (70 – Swierczok), Marcelinho (78 – Mahlangu)

Yellow cards: Maxso (Zurich); Dyakov, Natanael, Brandao, Marcelinho (Ludogorets).