Bulgaria coach Luboslav Penev is leaving nothing to chance in his preparations for tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta.

After studying Malta’s performances in their opening three qualifiers, Penev roped in first division side Marek to play a friendly game against the national team behind closed doors this week.

The purpose of this friendly was to replicate the challenges Bulgaria are likely to encounter in their clash with Malta as Marek agreed to adopt the same tactics, 3-5-2, that national coach Pietro Ghedin has used in the opening three qualifiers. Bulgaria reportedly won the game 3-0.

Addressing a news conference, Penev acknowledged that tonight’s game has taken on added significance for Bulgaria after their defeats to Croatia and Norway.

“It is very important,” Penev said of the match.

“For me it makes no difference who the opponents are. The important thing for the team is to win the game.”

Penev is hoping that Bulgaria emulate their performance in the 6-0 rout of Malta.

“We are a team that creates a lot of chances but we are having problems converting them,” he said.

“When we beat Malta 6-0, it was one of the few games where we managed to take almost all our chances.

“I hope that we repeat that performance.

“We know Malta very well. It was very difficult for them in the last three games because in two matches (vs Croatia and Italy) they had two red cards.

“We respect Malta. They are a team that can cause difficulties to any opposition.”

Midfielders Todor Nedelev and Vladimir Gadzhev are out injured.