- Head-to-head: Levski Sofia have won the last three H2H meetings with CSKA 1948 including a 1-0 victory three weeks ago.
- Home form: CSKA 1948 have failed to win either of their last two home games vs Levski Sofia.
- Away form: Levski Sofia are unbeaten in their last two away games (W1, D1).
All eyes on Sofia derby with big European implications
Table and head-to-head
With 35 games played in the Parva Liga - Championship Group 2026, Levski Sofia are the runaway table-toppers on 80 points, while CSKA 1948 are second-best on 66. The head-to-head record heavily favours Levski, who have beaten CSKA 1948 in all of their three encounters in the 2026 campaign, including the last clash three weeks ago.
Playing styles and managers
Sofia’s famous rivals are a study in contrasts, both in terms of their club history and footballing identities. Levski are the more traditional club and have played a more possession-based style of soccer since Julio Velázquez took over as coach in January 2025.
Velázquez has moulded Levski into a side that likes to press high up the field, control the midfield and build up patiently, creating overloads via overlapping full-backs. They have the midfield maestro and attacking full-backs to execute this style to its maximum potential, whereas CSKA 1948 are a high-tempo, aggressive team who press in the opposition’s half and try to break through the wings.
Sasho Aleksandrov took over as CSKA 1948 manager in May 2026 and has instilled some of this high-pressing mentality into the team’s tactical DNA. There is a fierce rivalry between these two clubs, but their contrasting playing styles make this a derby not to miss.
Lions can be the kings of Sofia
CSKA 1948 are the bookmaker’s favorites at 2.58 for this Sofia derby, while Levski are 3.12 and the draw 2.74. It is a low-stakes game, which is odd given what’s at stake, but the oddsmakers are favouring the hosts because they’ve been in better form of late, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five in the league.
However, Levski have three wins, one draw and only one defeat in their last five league fixtures.
- Their recent results include a 1-1 away draw at Ludogorets Razgrad and a 2-0 home win over CSKA Sofia.
- Levski’s away record in the current Parva Liga campaign is superior to CSKA 1948’s home record, with the Lions having 10 wins, four draws and just three defeats from 17 away games, conceding just 15 goals on their travels.
- CSKA 1948 have 10 wins, three draws and four defeats from 17 home games, scoring 26 times.
Sofia clash is a chess match
There is a lot to consider in this game and while Levski have superior form and a far better H2H record, CSKA 1948 do have home-field advantage. The odds favor them slightly and that’s a big consideration, as is the fact that CSKA 1948 have Mamadou Diallo, their ‘danger man’, in form with two goals in their last five.
However, Levski Sofia’s superior form and ability to dominate midfield and control games through possession make me think that they can nick this derby, albeit in a low-scoring affair. Given recent trends, the under 2.5 goals market at 1.61 looks a better alternative bet to the win-draw-win markets.
