UEFA Europa League League Stage - 8
Ludogorets 1 - 0 FT Nice
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
24' Dinis Almeida
42' P. Stanic (Caio Vidal)
HT
↓ T. Gouveia ↑K. Boudache 46'
↓ D. Coulibaly ↑S. Abdul Samed 46'
66' ↓ E. Bile ↑I. Chochev
↓ I. Jansson ↑M. Brignone 66'
↓ A. Mendy ↑M. Youssouf 79'
↓ T. Ndombele ↑K. Ali 79'
80' ↓ Caio Vidal ↑J. Andersson
80' ↓ Erick Marcus ↑B. Tekpetey
Brad-Hamilton Mantsounga 87'
90'+1 ↓ P. Stanic ↑F. Kaloc
Kaïl Boudache 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Ludogorets
Goalkeepers
H. Bonmann 
OCTOPUS
5
Saves
5
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Son 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
O. Verdon 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Almeida
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
A. Nedyalkov 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
29%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Pedro Naressi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Duarte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Caio Vidal 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
P. Stanic 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Erick Marcus
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Forwards
E. Bile
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
BENCH
S. Padt 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
D. Hristov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Andersson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Shishkov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Nachmias
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Chochev
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Kaloc
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Machado
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Tekpetey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Ivanov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nice
Goalkeepers
Y. Diouf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Louchet
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
44%
Pass Acc
A. Mendy
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
J. Bah 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
64%
Duel Win %
B. Mantsounga
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
E. Pereira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Coulibaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
T. Gouveia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
T. Ndombele
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
I. Jansson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Forwards
Kevin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
B. Zelazowski
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
T. Bruyere
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Youssouf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Sofikitis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Brignone
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Abdul Samed
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Boudache
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +5
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -7
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -10
P: 8 GD: -11
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +5
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -7
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -10
P: 8 GD: -11
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Stanić Strike Settles Goalkeeping Masterclass at Huvepharma Arena
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 25/100. A sheer volume of chances met an impenetrable wall of saves, leaving one clinical moment to define the entire European tie.
Opening Act
A barrage of 38 total shots turned Huvepharma Arena into an absolute shooting gallery right from the opening whistle. Both Ludogorets and Nice abandoned any pretense of caution, trading heavy blows in a wide-open continental contest. The visitors edged possession, cleanly pinging the ball around the final third, but they lacked a ruthless edge when it mattered most. Instead, the narrative was quickly dominated by an off-the-charts Intensity that stretched both defensive lines to breaking point. Set-piece pressure mounted constantly, with 13 corners keeping the penalty areas heavily congested and defenders scrambling to clear their lines. Yet, every time an attacker found a dangerous pocket of space, the men between the posts stood remarkably tall. Yehvann Diouf was brilliant early on for the French side, throwing his body on the line and parrying away dangerous efforts to keep the score level amidst the chaos.
The Pivot
The tactical Balance shifted permanently just before the halftime interval. After surviving a relentless wave of pressure, the home side's tempo finally cracked the deadlock in the 42nd minute. Caio Vidal spotted a rare opening, slicing a perfectly weighted pass straight through the chaotic Nice backline. Petar Stanić made no mistake, stepping up to bury the opportunity with absolute conviction and put the hosts firmly ahead. This single lead change instantly redefined the contest. Nice was forced to push even higher up the pitch, leaving massive gaps in transition, while Ludogorets smartly anchored their midfield structure to protect the narrow advantage. Diouf kept his struggling team alive with seven massive saves in total, but the irreversible damage was entirely done during that one fatal lapse of defensive concentration before the break.
Resolution
The second half transformed into a gritty, desperate siege. The French outfit threw bodies forward in a frantic bid to salvage their rapidly crumbling European campaign and halt a miserable run of form. They fired 19 shots overall, but a staggering nine missed the target completely, highlighting their severe lack of composure in crucial moments. When they did manage to test the goal, Hendrik Bonmann emphatically answered the call. The Ludogorets stopper delivered five crucial saves, commanding his area and earning his clean sheet the absolute hard way. The full-time whistle confirmed a massive victory for the Bulgarian side, pushing them to 10 points and cementing their spot firmly in the playoff zone. For Nice, this devastating defeat pushes them down to 33rd in the standings, leaving their continental hopes hanging by a very thin thread.
Key Questions
Who scored the decisive goal?
Petar Stanić secured the victory for Ludogorets in the 42nd minute, finishing a well-timed assist from Caio Vidal.
How did the goalkeepers perform?
Exceptionnally. Yehvann Diouf made seven vital saves for Nice, while Hendrik Bonmann earned a clean sheet with five stops for Ludogorets.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Defensive Chaos Meets Playoff Ambition
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. This clash is a must-win for the hosts to cement a top-24 playoff berth, while the visitors are simply trying to stop the bleeding of a disastrous campaign.
The Setup
Under the lights at Huvepharma Arena on January 29, 2026, Ludogorets have a golden opportunity. Sitting 22nd in the Europa League table, they are hovering right on the playoff qualification line. Nice, languishing in 33rd with just three points, have endured a miserable European journey. Our Stakes analysis highlights the sheer urgency for the home side to secure three points. Meanwhile, the Form metrics for both squads expose glaring defensive fragilities, combining to concede nearly four goals per game. Despite a low Balance rating suggesting a highly volatile and messy affair, the Stars on display promise offensive fireworks. With goalkeeper Hendrik Bonmann making 19 saves across four matches, the home side will desperately need his heroics to survive Nice's chaotic attacks.
Key Battle
Petar Stanić has been an absolute goal machine for the hosts, carrying their European ambitions firmly on his back. He will relentlessly test a fragile French backline, while Nice will look to Tiago Gouveia to spark something positive. Gouveia’s direct running must penetrate a porous Bulgarian defense if the visitors want any chance of leaving with a respectable result.
Our Prediction
We expect Ludogorets to edge a high-scoring shootout. Nice's defense is entirely too generous, and Stanić is too clinical in the final third. A 3-2 home victory seems fitting for two teams that completely struggle to keep clean sheets.