Ludogorets took a significant step toward the UEFA Europa League group stage with a 2–1 victory over Shkendija in the play-off round first leg on Thursday, 28 August 2025. The match kicked off at 17:30 UTC under Swiss referee Urs Schnyder, and the Bulgarian champions went into the break with a commanding 2–0 lead. That half-time advantage proved decisive, as Ludogorets held on through the second half to secure a win that gave them a clear edge ahead of the return leg.

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