Levski Sofia Championship Race: Tension and Expectations

Levski Sofia enters a critical phase of the 2025-26 First League season as they push for their first league title since the 2008/09 season. Currently leading the standings, the club is navigating the final stages of the regular season with the goal of ending a title drought that has lasted over a decade.

The tension surrounding the title race is set to peak on April 13, 2026, when Levski Sofia faces arch-rivals CSKA Sofia in the “Eternal Derby.” This match serves as the finale of the regular season and will be a decisive factor in determining the seeding and momentum as teams move into the championship playoffs.

Current Standings and Form

While Levski Sofia holds the top spot in the table, their path to the championship has encountered recent obstacles. A draw in Dobrich has left the team vulnerable, creating an opportunity for pursuing clubs to close the gap before the playoff phase begins.

CSKA Sofia currently sits in third place and enters the April 13 encounter following a victory over Montana. Despite their position, they remain a significant threat to Levski’s ambitions, particularly as they will act as the symbolic hosts at the National Stadium “Vasil Levski.”

Season Performance and Statistics

The 2025-26 campaign marks Levski Sofia’s 105th season in the First League. Under the management of Julio Velázquez and Chairman Nasko Sirakov, the club has seen significant offensive contributions from Everton Bala, who has scored 16 league goals and 17 goals across all competitions as of April 9, 2026.

The club’s home record at Stadion Georgi Asparuhov has been highlighted by a 7–0 victory over Septemvri Sofia. The season’s highest home attendance was recorded on August 21, 2025, with 29,930 spectators attending the match against AZ.

In other competitions, Levski Sofia finished as runners-up in the Bulgarian Supercup and has reached the quarter-finals of the Bulgarian Cup. Their European campaign included the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round and the UEFA Conference League play-off round.

Squad Developments

The club’s roster has seen several additions throughout the season to bolster their title bid. Notable transfers and arrivals include:

• Armstrong Oko-Flex, who joined from Botev Plovdiv for 300,000 €
• Akram Bouras, arriving from MC Alger for 350,000 €
• Rildo, who joined on loan from Santa Clara for 60,000 €
• Stipe Vulikić from Sampdoria and Juan Perea from Lokomotiv Plovdiv
• Free transfers including Nikola Serafimov from Fehérvár, Martin Lukov from Lokomotiv Plovdiv, and Radoslav Kirilov from CSKA 1948

The team has also seen the return of players from loan spells, including Borislav Rupanov, Asen Chandarov, and Clement Ikenna.

The Road to the Championship

The upcoming derby on April 13, 2026, is viewed as a pivotal step toward securing the title. A victory for Levski would strengthen their position heading into the playoffs, while a loss or draw could allow their rivals to significantly narrow the points difference.

The internal pressure at the club has been emphasized by Georgi Ivanov (Gesha), who stated that players must be prepared for the high levels of tension associated with playing for Levski Sofia.

As the regular season concludes, the focus remains on whether the “Blues” can maintain their composure and tactical execution to secure the championship trophy for the first time since 2009.