Ludogorets with a classic win over Botev (Plovdiv)

Ludogorets moved 10 points clear at the top of the table after a convincing 3-0 win over second-placed Botev Plovdiv. Dinis Almeida scored for the Eagles in the first half, as did Pedro Naressi and Kwadwo Duah in the second.

Ludogorets created their first chance in the 11th minute. Then Son crossed from the right to Chochev, who shot with his heel, and Bernat cleared. At the ensuing corner, the Eagles played the situation like a pro, Rick crossed to Son, and he headed the ball over Dinis Almeida’s head – 1-0 for the Eagles.

The visitors could have equalized in the 23rd minute, when after a corner the ball reached Yannis Karabelov. He shot immediately, but the ball ricocheted off a Ludogorets defender and went over the goal. A little later, Chochev made a mistake in the pass, Akere immediately found Tribule, but the former Beroe player did not measure his steps and the ball went out of bounds. In the 31st minute, Denny Gropper was fouled by Antoine Conte in Botev's penalty, but the referee did not give a penalty. Six minutes later, Kurtulus, after a cross from a foul, shot with his head, but inaccurately.

At the break, Jovicevic made a double substitution, taking Duarte and Rwan out of the game and putting Piotrowski and Duah in their place. In the 51st minute, Nwachukwu tried his aim. In the counterattack, Erick Marcus made a wonderful breakthrough, passing through three defenders, but shooting straight and weakly with his left foot. Denny Gropper did the same, only from a direct free kick.

In the 65th minute, Dusan Kerkez released a second striker in the face of Alexa Marash, with Vinny Tribule on the field with him. However, this did not give the desired result, and the intrigue in the match ended in the 69th minute. Then, after Rick's cross from the left, Chernev cleared, but right at the feet of Pedro Naressi, who with an impressive shot sent the ball into the goal – 2:0.

In the 75th minute, Botev Plovdiv could have pulled one back. After a cross from a corner kick, Antoine Conte was left completely alone, but his shot hit the post. Seconds later, one of the players in the best form in Ludogorets – Son, went out with an injury, who was replaced by Olivier Verdon. In the 78th minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul by Atanas Chernev against Kwadwo Duah. The injured man stood behind the ball. Initially, his shot was saved by goalkeeper Bernat. However, the Dane was not on the goal line and the referee ruled the penalty to be taken. On the second attempt, Duah made no mistake – 3:0.

On December 19, the two teams will play again in a postponed match, only at the "College". In it, Botev Plovdiv can try to shorten the gap to the top. After the categorical success, everyone in Razgrad is already thinking about hosting AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.