Levski Sofia’s Title Race: Character and Strategy for Victory

PFC Levski Sofia extended their lead at the top of the Bulgarian First League following a 1-0 victory over Arda on April 12, 2026. The result maintains a nine-point gap between Levski Sofia and the second-place team in the standings.

The match, held at the Vivacom Arena – Georgi Asparuhov, was decided in the second half. F. Mota de Castro scored the winning goal in the 64th minute to secure the three points for the home side.

Match Details and Tactical Changes

Head coach Julio Velázquez started the match with a lineup featuring Svetoslav Vutsov in goal. The defensive line consisted of Wabo Kamdem, Nikola Serafimov, Christian Makoun, and Stipe Vulikić.

The midfield and attack were led by A. Bouras, Georgi Kostadinov, and Radoslav Kirilov, supported by Mazire Soula, Armstrong Okoflex, and the goal-scorer F. Mota de Castro.

Velázquez utilized several substitutions to manage the game. Carlos Ohene and A. Neves Paulo Faustino entered the match in the 46th minute, replacing Georgi Kostadinov and Christian Makoun respectively.

Later in the match, Juan Perea Sanchez was introduced in the 73rd minute for Armstrong Okoflex. Gašper Trdin entered in the 88th minute for Wabo Kamdem, and A. Mitkov replaced Mazire Soula in the 90th minute.

Recent Form and League Standing

This victory follows a period of high drama for the Sofia-based club. On April 5, 2026, Levski Sofia played to a draw in a match where they scored twice in the 88th minute to salvage a result.

The current nine-point lead positions Levski Sofia strongly as they pursue the national championship. The club’s ability to secure tight wins, such as the 1-0 result against Arda, has been central to their dominance in the 2025–26 campaign.

Club History and Legacy

Founded on May 24, 1914, by a group of high school students, PFC Levski Sofia is named after the national hero and Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski.

The club holds a distinguished record in Bulgarian football, having won a total of 74 trophies. This collection includes 26 national championships, 26 national cups, and three supercups.

In addition to these titles, Levski Sofia has achieved 13 domestic doubles and one treble during its history.

The club also maintains a unique statistical achievement in the Bulgarian football league system. Since the establishment of the league system in 1937, Levski Sofia is the only Bulgarian football club that has never been relegated from the top division.

On the international stage, the club has previously reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup twice and the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup three times.