The numbers and statistics ahead of Ludogorets vs. Inter

MILAN - Inter’s next fixture sees them face up against Ludogorets on Thursday 20 February, for the first leg in the Europa League round of 32.

The game will kick off at 18:55 CET in Razgrad, with this being the first official meeting between Ludogorets and Inter.

INTER’S HISTORY AGAINST BULGARIAN SIDES

Inter are unbeaten in their five encounters with Bulgarian teams in European competitions (2W, 3D); the first of these came in 1967, in two draws where Facchetti opened the scoring. The most recent came against Etar Veliko Tarnovo in the first round of the 1974/75 UEFA Cup. The two-legged fixture saw a goalless draw in the first game and a win for Inter in the second after an Oriali goal and a Boninsegna brace in Milan.

LUDOGORETS AGAINST ITALIAN TEAMS

The Bulgarians have lost in both of their last two meetings with Italian sides: both coming against AC Milan in the round of 32 of the 2017/18 Europa League. Before that, Ludogorets’ last encounter with an Italian team came as they knocked out Lazio in the Europa League round of 32 in the 2013/14 season (1-0 away, 3-3 at home).

CURRENT FORM

Ludogorets sit in top spot of the table, unbeaten after 21 games with 15 wins, six draws and 51 points so far, having scored 36 and conceded just eight. The Bulgarians’ European journey began with elimination at the hands of Ferencvaros in the first round of Champions League qualification, dropping down to the Europa League where Pavel Vrba’s side finished second behind Espanyol in Group H. The group stage saw them take revenge on Ferencvaros, the Hungarian side being knocked out after finishing in third place.

Antonio Conte’s Inter arrive at the Ludogorets Arena after suffering a comeback loss to Lazio in the league, their second defeat of the Serie A season so far. Conte’s Nerazzurri currently sit on 54 points after 24 games played.

GENERAL STATISTICS

Inter have progressed through from the round of 32 in all of their last 16 attempts between the UEFA Cup and the Europa League, with the Nerazzurri’s last elimination at this stage coming in 1981/82 against Dinamo Bucharest.

Ludogorets have only made it through a knockout round in the Europa League in one of their last four attempts, this came against Lazio in 2013/14.

PLAYER FOCUS

Lautaro Martínez has scored five goals in his last five appearances in the Champions League; the last player to score more European goals (excluding those in qualification) in one season for Inter was Rodrigo Palacio (six in 2012/13).

Romelu Lukaku has scored in every single one of his last five Europa League games (eight goals for Everton in 2014/15). Our Belgian forward also scored in his last two appearances for Inter in the Champions League group stage.