All you need to know about Ludogorets...
As Liverpool prepare for their crucial Champions League clash with Ludogorets Razgrad in Sofia tonight, we bring you a more in-depth look at the Bulgarian champions.
Founded in June 2001, Ludogorets derive their name from the Ludogorie area, which translates as the 'region of wild forests' and the team formed in the east of the country adopted Eagles as their nickname.
Boosted by investment from current owner Kiril Domuschiev in 2010, Ludogorets were champions of Bulgaria for the first time two years later, beating CSKA Sofia on the final day of the campaign to clinch the title in stunning fashion.
Three consecutive league triumphs followed and, after an impressive run in last year's Europa League, Georgi Dermendzhiev's outfit were preparing for their first crack at the Champions League this summer.
And they have had a journey to remember so far, becoming the first Bulgarian team to obtain any points in the competition, following their 1-0 victory over Swiss outfit FC Basel.
That despite having to play their home matches 400km from Razgrad at Sofia's Vasil Levski National Stadium due to the Ludogorets Arena failing to meet UEFA requirements.
Though they were initially considered to be Group B underdogs, the Bulgarian outfit boast an impressive record in recent UEFA competitions - recording five wins, three draws and two losses in their last 10 encounters.
When trailing Steaua Bucharest 1-0 on aggregate in the second leg of their Champions League play-off, it seemed as though Ludogorets would miss out on this year's tournament. However, Farias Wanderson had other ideas, firing from 20 yards to put the Bulgarian champions level.
In the final minute of extra-time, defender Cosmin Moti was forced to take over the gloves as the Ludogorets goalkeeper was sent off for a tackle on the edge of the area, preventing a goalscoring opportunity.
Heroics ensued as Moti then converted his own penalty in the subsequent shootout and prevented two from going past him to send Ludogorets into the group stages.
Domestically, they currently sit in second place on 32 points in the Bulgarian A Football Group table, five points behind leaders CSKA Sofia. The rivals met last Saturday at Sofia's stadium - which is shared between the clubs while on European duty - with the game ending 1-1.
The Champions League novices are still a fairly new side. In the current squad, only one player - midfielder Dani Abalo - has clocked up more than 10 league starts so far this season; the midfielder has been their main goal threat too, converting five strikes.
One of Ludogorets' play-off heroes, Wanderson, has scored a further four goals from midfield while forward Virgil Misidjan equals his tally. In addition to their more established first-team players they recruited three new signings in the summer - Brayan Angulo, Hamza Younes and Milan Borjan.
Younes, in particular, could pose a potential threat in Sofia tonight as he's netted three times in only four starts and one substitute appearance for the Bulgarians.
