Levski Sofia
On Tuesday, 14 July, the Bulgarian capital Sofia will host the second leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifier between local side Levski Sofia and Borac Banja Luka. The match will kick off at 18:30 BST.
A week ago, the Bosnian champions came close to pulling off a surprise at home — they led for 45 minutes against the clear favourites, but could not hold on to their advantage (1:1). At home, Levski Sofia will be more consistent in controlling the initiative — this team have everything they need to reach the next round.
Levski Sofia's productive pre-season preparations quickly delivered results — the team fought back during a far from straightforward away match. In pre-season, the Sofia club scored 16 goals in four friendlies. A week ago, Velazquez's side had control: they led in possession (57-43%) and had far more shots (16-6). As expected, Levski Sofia attacked confidently thanks to a strong core of foreign players — including five substitutions, only two local footballers appeared on the pitch for the Bulgarian champions. The vertical set-up in a 4-3-3 produced the result: Everton Bala and David Kusso created plenty — Armstrong Oko-Flex came off the bench to finish off a tired defence.
Borac Banja Luka have far fewer top foreign players in their squad — only six foreigners started. Marinovic's staff mirrored the opponents' formation, but the Bosnian champions clearly found it difficult to compete with a more skilful opponent. The team from Banja Luka scored once in three of their four friendlies — their not especially powerful attack dipped in the first official match (only two shots on target). Borac Banja Luka will have even less possession away from home, and in a 4-3-3 there will be plenty of space left at the back — in those conditions, keeping the score level is virtually unrealistic.
Levski Sofia clearly have the stronger squad (€37 million against €9.2 million) — the difference in class told in the second half of the first match. Borac Banja Luka will not cope with an opponent who will immediately add more aggression and increase their number of shots.
Andrew Madley (England)
Matches – 8 (International matches, 2021–2026);
Average fouls per match – 24;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 2.4;
Matches with a red card – 2 out of 8;
Matches with a penalty – 3 out of 8.
|
Julio Velázquez
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Svetoslav Velislavov Vutsov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alejandro José Centelles Plaza
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kristian Traychev Dimitrov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Maicon Araújo dos Santos
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nikola Serafimov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Wabo Oliver Kamdem
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gašper Trdin
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sérgio Miguel Lobo Araújo
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Armstrong Inya Oko-Flex
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Francisco Everton Mota de Castro
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Martin Bozhidarov Lukov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ognyan Dilyanov Vladimirov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aldair Neves Paulo Faustino
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christian Frederick Bayoi Makoun Reyes
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Akram Bouras
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
El Mehdi El Moubarik
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Adrian Raychev
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
David João Kusso
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Juan Esteban Perea Sanchez
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stivan Yordanov Stoyanchov
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vinko Marinović
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Nikola Ćetković
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abel Pascual Urbón
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nemanja Jakšić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sebastián Herrera Cardona
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Siniša Saničanin
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Viktor Rogan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amer Hiroš
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Miloš Jojić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sandi Ogrinec
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stefan Savić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luka Juričić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Damjan Shishkovski
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Cherif Atab Diouf
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Erik Riđan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ante Roguljić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ognjen Radošević
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stojan Vranješ
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amar Milak
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Damir Hrelja
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daniel Romera Andújar
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
David Vuković
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Matej Deket
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Pavle Đajić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Borac Banja Luka
Levski Sofia
AZ Alkmaar
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia
AZ Alkmaar
FK Sabah
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia
FK Sabah
Sporting Braga
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia
Sporting Braga
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Levski Sofia
Levski Sofia
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Eintracht Frankfurt
Levski Sofia
Borac Banja Luka
Levski Sofia
FC Santa Coloma
Borac Banja Luka
Borac Banja Luka
FC Santa Coloma
Rapid Wien
Borac Banja Luka
Borac Banja Luka
Rapid Wien
Olimpija Ljubljana
Borac Banja Luka
Borac Banja Luka
Olimpija Ljubljana
Borac Banja Luka
Omonia
Shamrock Rovers
Borac Banja Luka
Borac Banja Luka
LASK Linz
Champions League 2026/27
Borac Banja Luka
Levski Sofia
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20:5 | 12 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13:7 | 12 |
|
3
|
Arsenal
|
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8:3 | 10 |
|
4
|
Como
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 19:6 | 9 |
|
5
|
Barcelona
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:6 | 9 |
|
6
|
Aston Villa
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:6 | 9 |
|
7
|
Manchester City
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
8
|
Liverpool
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:10 | 9 |
|
9
|
Brugge
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11:7 | 9 |
|
10
|
Sporting CP
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:4 | 9 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 9 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 9 |
|
13
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12:5 | 8 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7:4 | 7 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:6 | 6 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10:9 | 6 |
|
17
|
Manchester United
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 6 |
|
18
|
Galatasaray
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:9 | 6 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6:11 | 5 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10:8 | 4 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:4 | 4 |
|
22
|
Viking
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9:10 | 4 |
|
23
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:5 | 4 |
|
24
|
PSV
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:4 | 4 |
|
25
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:9 | 4 |
|
26
|
Porto
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:7 | 3 |
|
27
|
Napoli
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:11 | 3 |
|
28
|
Villarreal
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8:14 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
31
|
FK Sabah
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 3 |
|
32
|
Feyenoord
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:11 | 3 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:16 | 3 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4:10 | 1 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1:17 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
4
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:1 | 6 |
|
5
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
6
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
7
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:3 | 6 |
|
9
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:2 | 6 |
|
10
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6:5 | 5 |
|
11
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
12
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
13
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:4 | 4 |
|
14
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
18
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
23
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
25
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
27
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
29
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
30
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
31
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
32
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:11 | 0 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:5 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 7 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:5 | 6 |
|
4
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 6 |
|
7
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 4 |
|
8
|
Como
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11:4 | 3 |
|
9
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
10
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
11
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 3 |
|
12
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
17
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 1 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
22
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
23
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
24
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0:3 | 1 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
27
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
29
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
31
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
32
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
33
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
|
35
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:14 | 0 |
