Ruthless Ludogorets march past Dinamo

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad put GNK Dinamo Zagreb to the sword with a 3-0 win in Sofia to maintain their 100% start and move clear at the top of UEFA Europa League Group B.

The Bulgarian champions defeated PSV Eindhoven to claim arguably the most impressive scalp on matchday one, and they produced another impressive display to secure back-to-back wins. Juninho Quixadá conjured the opener in the 12th minute, before Virgil Misidjan and Svetoslav Dyakov ruthlessly punished defensive errors from Dinamo either side of half-time.

Ludogorets' sprightly start caught Dinamo cold and the early pressure paid dividends. Fábio Espinho's floated cross from the right was flicked on by Marcelinho, and Quixadá nodded in unmarked at the back post. The visitors regrouped and, after intricate play on the edge of the area, El Arbi Hilal brought a fine low save out of home goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov.

Dinamo's good work was undone on 34 minutes, when Misidjan took full advantage of a miscued clearance from goalkeeper Oliver Zelenika by curling the ball back past the stranded custodian into an unguarded goal. In response, Stoyanov beat away another Hilal drive before the break.

Stoyanov – who proved Dinamo's nemesis the last time he faced the Croatian champions – then had to be sharp soon after the restart to further frustrate Hilal. Dinamo would soon be made to rue their profligacy once more, as another defensive lapse cost the visitors on 61 minutes. This time, Hilal thundered a clearance against team-mate Jozo Šimunović, and the rebound was tucked away by a grateful Dyakov.

The three-goal lead proved insurmountable for Dinamo, who remain without a point at the foot of the standings.