Real Madrid certainly did not start their season the way they wanted to when the team lost to Liverpool in their first game. However, they have bounced back well, knocking in five against Swiss side Basel. Now they travel to Bulgaria to face Razgard Ludogorets as the team was not expecting to meet the European champions this early in the tournament. With Real Madrid not interested in taking their foot off the gas yet this season, this could end up being a lopsided affair.
Ludogorets is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Liverpool in their last match. The team looked poised to earn a 1-1 draw, but a late penalty took that away from them. The team admitted it was a hard thing to accept, but remains hopeful for a bounce back match in the knockout stages. This game could come down to the play of Milan Borjan. The team will be without defensive duo Alexandre Barthe and Georgi Terziev, meaning the goal play must be superior. No one is expecting Ludogorets to upset the 10-time champions, but they might be able to hold them to a reasonable score.
Madrid is simply concentrating on maintaining their dominance. Real Madrid's defense has been spotting after giving up early season games to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. They are allowing too many shots. In the win over Villarreal, the team have up 19 shots, putting their total to 73 shots in six league matches.
The match could see records broken when Cristiano Ronaldo takes the field. He has eight goals in his last three La Liga games while putting up 11 overall this season. He is just two scores away from tying Raul at the top of the record books with 71 Champions League goals, something that he could break on Wednesday. Facing a team like the Bulgarians could make that possible.
While Ronaldo is scoring, Karim Benzema is not with just two goals in his last nine matches. While it might not be necessary against the Bulgarians, Real Madrid needs him to return to form for the team. Getting a goal against Ludogorets could move his momentum in the right direction.
