Valencia have failed to win in three matches, scoring just once in the time, and face no easy task in Bulgaria on Thursday.
It’s the last 16 stage of the Europa League and eight first leg ties are taking place across the Continent.
It’s the match in Sofia that catches the eye however and the hosts should be good enough to earn at least a share of the spoils, despite being forced to play this fixture away from their home town of Razgrad.
Ludogorets qualified for the knockout stage dropping just two points in six matches, in a home draw with Chornomorets, and edged by Lazio in the previous round having triumphed 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
That was some achievement and quite why the La Liga side are little over evens on Thursday is questionable.
The Bulgarians dispathced Dinamo Zagreb and PSV in front of their own fans in the group stage, on both occasions keeping a clean sheet, and are usually defensively sound.
Ludogorets have conceded just 14 times in 26 top flight matches this term and are particularly hard to beat on home soil.
While Valencia have triumphed in each of their four away games in the Europa League this season their assignments have hardly been that taxing and are certainly struggling of late on the road.
The exception was their stunning 3-2 win at the Camp Nou in early February but that is Valencia’s only win in seven away from the Mestalla in all competitions and I am willing to take them on at the prices.
Valencia are deservedly favourites to advance but the A PFG leaders under manager Stoycho Stoev are fairly fearless and unlikely to prove a pushover.
2pts Lay Valencia (vs. Ludogorets) @ 2.25 (Betfair)