Ludogorets vs Servette facts

Ludogorets welcome Servette to Bulgaria for the concluding leg of the teams' UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-off with the tie still awaiting its first goal.

Servette's first springtime European game in 22 years ended scoreless at the Stade de Genève on 15 February, leaving Ludogorets looking to capitalise on home advantage to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Ludogorets finished in second place in Group H, level with Fenerbahçe on 12 points but below the Turkish team on goal difference, having snatched the section's second qualifying spot in dramatic fashion on Matchday 6.

European group stage debutants in the autumn, Servette are making their first appearance in the Europa Conference League proper following their third-place finish in UEFA Europa League Group G. This is their 12th European match of 2023/24, the longest continental campaign in the club's history.

Form guide

Ludogorets

Record vs Swiss clubs: W1 D4 L4 F5 A13
Home record vs Swiss clubs: W1 D2 L1

Ludogorets have just one win from their nine games against Swiss opposition, although they are unbeaten in their last three home matches (W1 D2).

They were drawn with Zürich in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage, losing 1-0 in Switzerland before a 1-1 home draw.

The Bulgarian title holders have just completed their tenth group stage in UEFA competition and their eighth in succession. They have progressed directly to the knockout stage for the first time since their run to the 2019/20 Europa League round of 32.

Last season Ludogorets finished third in their Europa League section with two wins and a draw from their six games. That set up a knockout round play-off in the Europa Conference League against Anderlecht, but a 3-0 penalty shoot-out defeat following a 2-2 aggregate draw meant their campaign in the competition was a brief one.

Their group stage this season had an eventful start, beating Spartak Trnava 4-0 at home in their opening game before a record 7-1 defeat against Nordsjælland on Matchday 2. A 3-1 defeat away to Fenerbahçe on Matchday 3 left them on three points from three games but three consecutive victories, against Fenerbahçe (2-0 h), Spartak (2-1 a) and, decisively, Nordsjælland, with Jakub Piotrowski scoring a 79th-minute winner, allowed them to overhaul the Danish club for second place.

After securing a 12th consecutive Bulgarian league title in 2022/23 Ludogorets were rewarded with a place in this season's UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, where they beat Kosovan side Ballkani (0-2 a, 4-0 h) only to lose in the next round to Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia (1-1 h, 1-2 a). Defeat by Ajax in the Europa League qualifying play-offs (1-4 h, 1-0 a) confirmed their first Europa Conference League group appearance.

The Eagles' loss to Ajax this season is their only defeat in their last eight home European games (W6 D1).

Georgi Dermendzhiev was reappointed head coach of Ludogorets for a third time on 24 October. He replaced Ivaylo Petev, who had been in charge since March 2023. Dermendzhiev won three league titles with the side in two spells between 2014 and 2017.

Ludogorets have been involved in three previous first-leg away draws in UEFA competition and won all three ties on aggregate, including the sole previous 0-0 away draw in the first game, against Mura in the 2021/22 Champions League second qualifying round (3-1 h). The Bulgarian side also beat Valur in the 2019/20 Europa League second qualifying round (1-1 a, 4-0 h) and Olympiacos in the 2021/22 Champions League third qualifying round (1-1 a, 2-2 h aet, 4-1 pens).

Ludogorets' record in three UEFA penalty shoot-outs is W2 L1:
6-5 v Steaua Bucureşti, 2014/15 UEFA Champions League play-off
4-1 v Olympiacos, 2021/22 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round
0-3 v Anderlecht, 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-off

Servette

Record vs Bulgarian clubs: W2 D1 L2 F3 A5
Away record vs Bulgarian clubs: W0 D0 L2

Prior to the first leg Servette had faced Bulgarian opposition on four previous occasions, winning both home games and losing both away.

They took on Slavia Sofia in the 1966/67 European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, winning 1-0 in the home first leg before a 3-0 defeat in Bulgaria. More recently they faced CSKA Sofia in a 1998/99 UEFA Cup first round tie, winning 2-1 in Geneva but losing on away goals after a 1-0 away loss in the second leg.

The Swiss side's first appearance in a Europa League group stage finished with a third-place finish and qualification to the Europa Conference League knockout stage for the first time. This is their first springtime European tie since the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, when they lost 5-2 to Valencia in the fourth round.

This season, Servette lost their first two group games, against Slavia Praha (0-2 h) and Roma (0-4 a), before picking up four points from their two matches with Sheriff Tiraspol (1-1 a, 2-1 h). They then secured an impressive 1-1 draw at home to Roma before a 4-0 away defeat at Slavia on Matchday 6.

Their second-placed league finish last season was the club's highest since 1998/99 and earned them a place in the Champions League second qualifying round. After defeating Genk 4-1 on penalties (1-1 h, 2-2 a aet), they went out in the third qualifying round to Rangers (1-2 a, 1-1 h) to move into the Europa League.

In 2021/22 they lost to Molde (0-3 a, 2-0 h) in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round, their sole previous games in the competition before this tie.

The Maroons have won just one of their last nine away European matches (D3 L5).

Servette have been involved in six previous draws in first legs at home in UEFA ties, with the aggregate record W3 L3, most recently beating Genk in this season's Champions League second qualifying round (1-1 h, 2-2 a aet, 4-1 pens). Two of the Swiss side's three aggregate defeats have come after goalless home first-leg draws, against Aberdeen in the 1985/86 European Cup second round (0-1 a) and Hertha Berlin in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup third round (0-3 a).

Servette’s record in one UEFA penalty shoot-out is W1 L0:
4-1 v Genk, 2023/24 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round

Links and trivia

Born in London, Ludogorets striker Kwadwo Duah was raised in Switzerland and spent time on loan at Servette from Young Boys in 2018/19, scoring two goals in 11 appearances.

In addition to Young Boys (2016–2019) and Servette, Duah also played for Neuchâtel Xamax (2017 loan), Winterthur (2017/18 loan), Wil (2019/20) and St Gallen (2020–22) in his home country. He scored two goals in his 11 appearances against Servette.

Duah and Jérémy Guillemenot were team-mates at St Gallen from 2020 to 2022.

Olivier Verdon and Enzo Crivelli played together for Bordeaux in 2015/16.

Servette's Bradley Mazikou played for CSKA-Sofia between 2019 and 2022. He played nine times in all competitions against Ludogorets during his time in Bulgaria, winning twice and losing four.