Levski Sofia vs Universitatea Craiova - prediction, team news, lineups

Levski Sofia volition look to marque location vantage number erstwhile again erstwhile they invited Universitatea Craiova to Georgi Asparuhov Stadium for the archetypal limb of their Champions League 2nd qualifying circular necktie connected Wednesday evening.

The Bulgarian champions reached this signifier with a 5-1 aggregate triumph implicit Borac Banja Luka aft an emphatic second-leg occurrence successful Sofia, portion the Romanian rubric holders besides progressed with a 5-1 triumph crossed some legs against Vitebsk pursuing a constrictive triumph successful Craiova.

Match preview

Levski Sofia's dominance successful the 2nd limb of their Champions League qualifier against Borac came arsenic small astonishment aft they had already been the amended broadside successful the opening 1-1 draw, wherever Armstrong Oko-Flex struck a second-half equaliser.

A 4-0 triumph in past week's instrumentality fixture saw the Irish guardant interruption the deadlock moments aft the interval earlier Reinaldo netted doubly and Juan Perea added the fourth, with the hosts converting each 4 of their shots connected people from 14 attempts.

Three days later, Julio Velazquez's broadside opened their 2026-27 Bulgarian top-tier run with a 2-1 triumph implicit Dunav Ruse, successful an brushwood wherever Kristian Dimitrov struck aft 22 minutes and Akram Bouras doubled the pb earlier Denislav Minchev grabbed a precocious consolation.

That effect near Levski Sofia apical of the Parva Liga array up of Ludogorets connected goals scored and marked the cleanable commencement to the Blues’ rubric defence aft ending a 17-year hold for the title with a 27th top-flight crown past season.

Velazquez's men are present unbeaten successful 10 matches crossed each competitions, including six competitory fixtures (W4, D2), with their past decision coming successful a 1-0 location reverse to Ludogorets connected May 9 

That remains Levski Sofia's lone nonaccomplishment successful 10 competitory location outings during 2026, with the different 9 each ending successful victory, portion scoring aggregate goals successful six games during that play and having arsenic galore cleanable sheets successful that stretch. 

The Blues volition anticipation those awesome numbers proceed connected Wednesday arsenic they bid to determination person to a archetypal Champions League main signifier quality since 2006-07, though they are without a triumph successful the past 4 2nd qualifying circular matches (D1, L3) of Europe’s elite nine contention and person failed to people successful each.

Levski Sofia did not prime up immoderate caller wounded concerns successful past weekend's league win, though Stipe Vulikic, Asen Mitkov, Radoslav Kirilov and Mustapha Sangare stay unavailable dued to fittingness issues.

Velazquez heavy rotated his squad astatine the play with 7 changes from the broadside that defeated Borac, but astir of those regular starters are expected to return.

Goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov should beryllium restored betwixt the posts, portion Oliver Kamdem, Nikola Serafimov, Gasper Trdin and Serginho are besides successful enactment to return, with Bouras acceptable to support his spot aft an encouraging display.

Oko-Flex is expected to proceed connected the flank aft scoring successful consecutive Champions League outings, portion Everton Bala and Reinaldo, who struck doubly against Borac, should besides commencement successful attack.

Craiova brag Coelho besides made respective changes astatine the play and saw his substitutes marque the difference, meaning Baiaram is expected to instrumentality to the starting lineup portion Elisor pushes for his archetypal commencement aft scoring his archetypal extremity for the club.

The visitors volition stay without goalkeeper Pavlo Isenko and Alexandru Iamandache arsenic some players proceed their betterment from injury.
 

Levski Sofia Champions League form:

Levski Sofia signifier (all competitions):

Universitatea Craiova Champions League form:

Universitatea Craiova signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Omonia person nary caller wounded concerns pursuing their affable triumph implicit Panetolikos, though defender Fotis Kitsos remains sidelined portion recovering from a superior genu wounded suffered successful January.

The Nicosia nine person strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Jaden Montnor and Kakoullis from Apollon Limassol, with the second successful contention to commencement aft his brace past clip out.

Fabiano is expected to proceed successful extremity aft starting each of the erstwhile 3 pre-season matches, portion Panagiotis Andreou could marque mode for Ioannis Kousoulos successful midfield.

For Kairat, defender Aleksandr Martynovich and midfielder Jaakko Oksanen are expected to instrumentality aft missing past weekend’s league triumph astatine Atyrau done suspension.

With Oksanen apt to instrumentality successful the mediate of the park, Jorginho could determination into the fig 10 relation down Marc Gual, though Edmilson whitethorn clasp his spot up beforehand aft an awesome show astatine the weekend.

Levski Sofia imaginable starting lineup:

Vutsov; Kamdem, Dimitrov, Serafimov, Maicon; Serginho, Trdin, Bouras; Oko-Flex, Reinaldo, Bala

Universitatea Craiova imaginable starting lineup:

Popescu; Romanchuk, Stevanovic, Rus; Teles, Cicaldau, Mekvabishvili, Bancu; Etim, Al Hamlawi, Baiaram

We say: Levski Sofia 1-0 Universitatea Craiova

This volition beryllium the archetypal gathering betwixt the 2 clubs, leaving small humanities grounds to assess, but caller signifier suggests different intimately fought contest.

Levski Sofia person been highly reliable astatine home, portion Craiova person shown awesome antiaircraft subject connected their travels with 4 cleanable sheets successful their past six distant outings, though the hosts whitethorn person conscionable capable prime to borderline a choky brushwood successful beforehand of their supporters.

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