The winner of the tie between Levski Sofia and Braga will go on to face either Lugano or CFR Cluj in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League qualification. Among these sides, Braga are the clear frontrunners. They are expected to assert early dominance in Sofia and progress without significant resistance.
For Levski Sofia, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League qualification is already a notable accomplishment, especially after overcoming Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the previous round. On neutral ground in Nyíregyháza, the team managed just four shots on target over 120 minutes, with their only goal coming after their opponents went down to ten men. In the opening fixture of their newly launched domestic season, the squad recorded a routine 5:0 victory over PFC Montana, though the gap in quality was not as wide as the scoreline suggests (19-6 in total shots).
Braga, by contrast, have had an ideal pre-season, winning all five of their friendly matches. On Saturday, they defeated La Liga mid-table side Celta de Vigo 3:1, with goals from Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Rodrigo Zalazar, and Bruno Rodrigues, indicating that the team’s key players have hit top form. The squad is at full strength, with the exception of promising defender Jonatás Noro, who remains sidelined due to injury.
While home support in Sofia may provide some emotional lift for Levski Sofia, the superior quality of Braga is expected to prove decisive. The Portuguese are in a strong position to win, and expectations around their success are growing steadily.
