Ludogorets Razgrad booked their spot in the UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round with a hard-fought 1-0 win over OGC Nice at the Huvepharma Arena, extending their unbeaten run in the competition to nine matches (W7, D2).

The first half was frenetic, with 24 shots between the two sides, but only one found the net. It was no surprise who opened the scoring, as UEL top scorer Petar Stanic met Caio Vidal’s precise through ball and calmly lifted the ball over goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, registering his seventh goal of the campaign.

Ludogorets continued to threaten before halftime, with Vidal particularly dangerous, only to be denied three times by Diouf. Nice’s best opportunity came from 18-year-old Brad-Hamilton Mantsouga, whose ambitious strike forced a strong save from Hendrik Bonmann.

The French visitors, already eliminated, appeared reliant on their youthful talent for a response. Nineteen-year-old substitute Kail Boudache attempted a similar long-range effort to Mantsouga’s earlier shot, but Bonmann was again equal to the task.

Despite moments of tension, Ludogorets nearly doubled their lead when Son unleashed a brilliant strike that Diouf had to parry. Ivaylo Chochev, who scored against PAOK last month, came on as a substitute and saw a diving header rebound off the post.

Ultimately, Stanic’s early goal was enough to secure the victory, sending Ludogorets through to the knockout stages. Nice, meanwhile, remain eliminated, extending their run of away defeats in major European competitions to nine.