With the help of an own goal Croatia made it two wins out of two to start their qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

Bulgaria did well to stifle the Croatian attack for much of the night, but gifted the visitors the only goal they needed when Fulham's Nikolay Bodurov headed into this own net in the 36th minute.

Croatia coach Niko Kovac had warned his players to expect disciplined opponents effective at closing down the game and that is what they got in a match of few chances.

The first went to Bulgaria, with Ivelin Popov heading over from close range in the 14th minute, and the half-hour mark was nearing before Croatia created something of their own - with Domagoj Vida heading over from a corner after Apostol Popov had blocked Ivan Perisic's weak shot.

The goal came from a set-piece after Georgi Milanov fouled Luka Modric. Ivan Rakitic whipped in a the free-kick and Bodurov inadvertently headed it home under pressure from Ivica Olic.

Marcelo Brozovic went close to doubling the advantage moments later with his drilled effort tipped over the crossbar by Vladislav Stoyanov, while Bulgaria's Vladimir Gadzhev brought a rare save out of Danijel Subasic deep in first-half stoppage time.

The goalkeepers had even less to do in an uneventful second half, with Subasic punching away a curling effort from Popov in the 77th minute before Vedran Corluka saved his keeper the bother by blocking another shot from the forward five minutes from time.

There were late chances for Croatia, but Perisic's shot drifted wide before Brozovic headed over in the final minute.