Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Bulgaria and Gibraltar face each other in a David-vs-Goliath Nations League clash at Huvepharma Arena. The Bulgarians aim to avoid relegation to League D, and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at the minnows. Anyhow, it seems as if Georgi Ivanov’s men will not have a better chance than this to record their first win of the process. Talented Inter Milan midfielder Nikola Iliev has earned his first Bulgaria call-up.
The visitors, on the other hand, did well to hold Georgi Ivanov’s troops to a draw at Victoria Stadium, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry in Friday’s clash. As previously mentioned, David faces Goliath in Razgrad, meaning that anything but a routine home win would be a major surprise. It has to be noted that Gibraltar suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to North Macedonia in their last away game.
Highlighted Player (Vladislav Stoyanov):
Stoyanov is a Bulgarian goalkeeper playing for PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. The 29-year-old shot stopper is also a member of the Bulgarian national football team with his Cristiano Ronaldo penalty save in an unexpected 1-0 away friendly win over Portugal remaining the highlight of his international career so far.
Stoyanov had previously saved another penalty from Real Madrid star in his team’s 2-1 loss to the reigning European champions in 2014. Stoyanov is an experienced goalkeeping veteran who has played for Naftex Burgas, Pomorie, Chernomorets and Sheriff Tiraspol before arriving in Razgrad in 2013.
Stoyanov had a fairly successful three-year spell in Moldova, having won two Moldovan National Division titles and one Moldovan Cup.The 2014 Bulgarian Footballer of the Year, Vladislav Stoyanov has made over 90 league appearances for Ludogorets and will be one of the key members in his club’s UEFA Champions League campaign, also one of the rare Bulgarian players in this Brazilian-studded team.
Highlighted Team (Gibraltar):
Gibraltar played their first unofficial match against Jersey in the 1993 Island Games. The Gibraltarians suffered a 2-1 loss to Jersey, but they did well to hold Slovakia to a goalless draw in their first official international match. Gibraltar participated in the 2016 World Cup qualifiers and they were drawn in Group D alongside Germany, Poland, Georgia, Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
They failed to impress on their debut in the World Cup qualifiers and it has to be noted that the minnows suffered a loss in each of their ten group games (goal difference 2:56). Gibraltar recorded their first ever win against Malta on April 6, 2014 and that is considered the team’s biggest success.
Danny Higginbotham, who played for the likes of Manchester United, Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke City and Sheffield United during his professional career, has three caps for Gibraltar national football team and he is considered the greatest player who whore Gibraltar shirt. The Gibraltarians play their home games at Estadio Algarve, speaking of qualifying matches.