Georgi Iliev Predicts CSKA Win Over Levski Will Crown Ludogorets Champions
- The Bulgarian Parva Liga title race has reached a critical juncture as Ludogorets attempts to maintain a historic domestic hegemony against a surging Levski Sofia.
- As of March 5, 2026, Ludogorets trails league leaders Levski Sofia by 12 points.
- Ludogorets has won the Bulgarian First League every season since their promotion to the top tier in 2011.
The Bulgarian Parva Liga title race has reached a critical juncture as Ludogorets attempts to maintain a historic domestic hegemony against a surging Levski Sofia. The reigning champions, who have won 14 successive league titles, currently face a significant challenge to their dominance in the 2025/2026 season.
As of March 5, 2026, Ludogorets trails league leaders Levski Sofia by 12 points. With 13 league matches remaining in the season, the gap puts the club’s pursuit of a world-record 15th straight title in jeopardy.
The Struggle for Dominance
Ludogorets has won the Bulgarian First League every season since their promotion to the top tier in 2011. This run has already surpassed the records of several international clubs, including Norway’s Rosenborg and Belarus’s BATE Borisov, and equals the European records held by Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps and the now-dissolved Latvian club Skonto.
The current standings see Levski Sofia positioned as the primary threat to this streak. Levski is aiming for their 27th title, which would be their first since 2009. The disparity in regional influence is notable, as Ludogorets hails from Razgrad, a city with a population under 34,000, while Levski represents the capital, Sofia.
Historically, Sofia-based clubs have dominated the league, claiming 69 titles in total. The current race represents a potential shift in power back toward the capital after over a decade of Ludogorets’ control.
Predictions and Rivalries
Amidst the title race, former CSKA director and player Georgi Iliev, known as Maikala, has offered predictions regarding the Eternal Derby and the eventual league outcome. According to reporting from gol.bg, Iliev predicts that CSKA will defeat Levski with a score of 2 or 3 goals.
Iliev further suggests that a victory for CSKA in the derby would effectively end the title battle, though he believes Ludogorets will ultimately be the ones to become champions.
League Context and Form
The competition remains tight among the top teams. In the early stages of the 2025/2026 Parva Liga, Levski Sofia demonstrated strong home form, remaining unbeaten in their first three home matches with an average of 3.00 goals per game.
CSKA 1948 Sofia has also remained competitive, sitting third in the league during the early phase of the season. Their head-to-head record against Ludogorets shows a dominant trend for the Razgrad side, with Ludogorets winning 10 of their previous 17 meetings, while CSKA 1948 has won three, with four draws.
Recent matchups between Ludogorets and CSKA 1948 have been high-scoring. On October 27, 2025, CSKA 1948 Sofia defeated Ludogorets 5-4. However, Ludogorets has historically maintained a strong goal difference in this fixture, scoring 39 goals compared to 21 for CSKA 1948 over 17 matches.
Upcoming Stakes
The trajectory of the season depends heavily on the direct confrontation between the league leaders and the reigning champions. A match between Levski Sofia and Ludogorets was scheduled for Thursday following the March 5 report, serving as a pivotal moment for both teams.
For Ludogorets, the objective is to close the 12-point gap and secure a 15th consecutive title, a feat that would set a new world record for a men’s professional football club. For Levski Sofia, maintaining their lead represents the opportunity to end a 17-year title drought and restore Sofia’s dominance in Bulgarian football.