Montenegrin champions Mogren enter this game severely weakened and everything suggests they will struggle to match more illustrious Litex side, especially as the game will not be played at Mogren’s home ground but in Podgorica. The Bulgarian champions have beaten Rudar Pljevlja 4:0 at the same stadium last season and are now looking for another win over Montenegrin champions.

Big problems for Brana Milacic

Mogren played good football last season and they deservedly lost the league title, although the poor performances towards the end of the season could have cost them the coveted trophy. However, instead of reinforcing the squad over summer, the club have done just the opposite as several key players left, so the Montenegrins now face a really tough task against Litex. After the club failed to bring proper replacements for Janjusevic, Grbic, Cetkovic, Tatar, Nuhi and Jovanovic, coach Brana Milacic was left with very limited resources, even for Montenegrin league, let alone Champions League. Experienced striker Vladimir Gluscevic returned to the club, while midfielders Bojan Ivanovic and Nikola Bogic also arrived, but taking everything into account, there is no doubt that Mogren are weaker than last season, when they were eliminated from Champions League qualifying stage after losing 12:0 on aggregate to FC Copenhagen.

Adrijan Djokaj is struggling with injury, while Nikola Vujovic, Ratko Zec, Marko Bakic and Dejan Przica are all doubtful through illness.

Litex have big ambitions

Litex Lovech have recently established themselves as one of the giants of Bulgarian football, and the small club managed to win the last two league titles quite convincingly, leaving giants such as CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia trailing in their wake. The fact that Luboslav Penev’s side conceded just 13 goals in 30 league games last season shows how impressing they have been on domestic stage and now it’s time for them to try and make it to the Champions League group stages. Litex were eliminated from Zilina last term, after beating then Montenegrin champions Rudar Pljevlja 5:0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round and there is no doubt they are now hot favourites against severely weakened Mogren. The club have done well on the transfer market this summer, having brought Maxime Josse, Onanga Itoua, Robert Flores, Thiago Miracema and Colio Codo, although important midfielder Doka Maduriera did leave for Istanbul.

Apart from long-term worry Sandrinho, Luboslav Penev will have full squad to choose from.

Verdict

Mogren are in big problems at the moment as not only are they weaker than last season, but also face numerous selection problems. Litex Lovech played really well in recent friendly games and there are no doubts they are hot favourites to win this game. My advice is to back the Bulgarians here.

Our prediction: Away win

Odds: 1.67 (2/3)

Bookmaker: 888Sport