Anderlecht must do it in return match

GAMES Anderlecht lost the return match in the 1/16th finals of the Conference League 1-0 at Ludogorets. An avoidable win. Anderlecht dominated more than three quarters of the match, but it failed to erase an early counter-goal.

Ludogorets didn't let grass grow over it. In the first minutes of the match, they cut dangerously through the Anderlecht defense on three occasions. Two times it was fortunately just offside. The fourth time, however, they scored. Thiago with a masterful ball on the outside of his foot towards Despodov. The captain with the cross and Thiago again headed in. Verbruggen had no chance.

Around fifteen minutes, Anderlecht took over. Purple and white combined fluently at times and got into the sixteen more and more often, where Slimani really did provide presence. Arnstad and a strong playing Verschaeren had good chances, but they did not score. The best chance was for Dreyer, but he hit the post. Remarkable: each time it was Murillo who made the last pass. In between, the Bulgarian players had to watch out for sharp counter punches. 1-0 at halftime: it could have been different.

After the break, Anderlecht continued to search frantically for the equalizer. The home team hardly had the ball and the purple and white team camped around the Ludogorets penalty area. However, no major chances remained. Riemer tried to turn things around with a triple substitution. Five minutes before time Raman seemed on his way to the 1-1, but only in front of goalkeeper Padt the latter proved to be the boss.

So it remained 1-0. Next week Anderlecht will have to work hard to advance to the 1/8th finals. Based on what we saw today and with a bit more sharpness in front of goal, this is certainly not an impossible task.

Score: 1-0
Goal(s): 9' Thiago (1-0)

Ludogorets:Padt, Witry, Plastun, Russo, Gruper, Show (83' Delev), Nonato, Naressi, Despodov, Thiago (83' Tissera), Tekpetey (73' Gonçalves)
Anderlecht:Verbruggen, Murillo, Debast, Vertonghen, Sardella, Diawara, Arnstad (68' Ashimeru), Verschaeren, Stroeykens (68' Refaelov), Slimani (68' Raman), Dreyer (88' Angulo)

Yellow: 45+3' Slimani, 61' Murillo, 69' Show, 81' Debast, 90' Padt, 90+2' Riemer, 90+4' Despodov
Red: /

Referee: Duje Strukan (Kro)
Stadium: Huvepharma Arena