<
>

Ludogorets Razgrad forced to play Real Madrid in different stadium

Ludogorets Razgrad are to play their Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday at Bulgaria's national stadium Vasil Levski, rather than their own Ludogorets Arena.

- Ames: Plucky Ludogorets' rise to the Champions League group stage

Seating just 6,100 spectators, Ludogorets' home stadium does not meet UEFA requirements and so the club will face the European Champions in Bulgaria's largest ground, which has a capacity of 43,000.

The city of Razgrad also has few hotels and no nearby airport -- Varna Airport is an hour away -- making Champions League games more difficult to stage.

Ludogorets, who lost their opening group-stage match to Liverpool, looked at various alternative options, such as Skopje in Macedonia and Bucharest in Romania, before deciding on Sofia's Vasil Levski -- a stadium large enough to hold Razgrad's entire 33,000 population.

The Vasil Levski is over five hours away from Razgrad -- 324 kilometres separate the two, but the poor roads make the journey significantly longer.

However, even with the journey, Ludogorets still expect 5,000 fans to make the trip to see their side in action against Madrid, while most of the remaining seats will be sold to Sofia residents.

Part of the ground will be closed as punishment for racist behaviour from supporters during the Bulgarian club's Champions League playoff tie at home to Steaua Bucuresti last month.