- Recent matches: NEC Nijmegen have tied their last two matches, both home (1-1 with Go Ahead Eagles) and away (1-1 with Ajax in Amsterdam).
- Levski form: PFC Levski Sofia are in better form coming into this, winning two, tying one and losing two of their last five competitive matches.
- UEFA standing: NEC Nijmegen are 36th in UEFA Europa League 2026-2027 (0pts after 1 game), PFC Levski Sofia are 25th (0pts after 1 game).
Levski Sofia look lively in European market
Levski build-up
Levski Sofia are in more than sufficient form to nick this match away from NEC Nijmegen and have been priced accordingly at 3.7 to do so. Levski Sofia are a more experienced European side than their Eredivisie opponents and look to take the prize at Stadion De Goffert on Thursday.
Player and coach notes
- Julio Velazquez has done a good job at Levski since taking over on 5 January 2025.
- He has introduced a more structured, compact style of play that is always set up around a mid-block and looks to hit in transition.
- Reinaldo is the danger man for the visitors, having scored two of their six goals in the last five games.
NEC and tactics
NEC coach Dick Schreuder has been at the club since 1 July 2025 and his team are a modern day soccer team who like to play on the front foot, but they don't score enough goals. Schreuder's system is based around a back three with two wing-backs that join the attack, pressing high when out of possession and looking to combine quickly with vertical passes.
First phase could be tight and tense
The first phase of this match should be tight and possibly tense as Levski look to stay compact, avoid playing the ball in wide areas and hit in transitions. NEC will play their game and create havoc through their wing-back overloads, but should also allow Levski to attack behind them.
We're in for a lively night at Stadion De Goffert, with both Over 2.5 goals at 1.7 and Both Teams to Score at 1.62 looking like solid bets. NEC are stubborn, but not ruthless at home, having tied their last two, 1-1 with Go Ahead Eagles and 1-1 with Ajax in the Eredivisie. Levski's away form has been solid, with one win and one tie in recent away matches.
NEC's form is flat, with no wins, three ties and two defeats in their last five. They are coming back-to-back 1-1 ties and Levski are in the better nick, with two defeats in their last five and a good bounce-back quality about them, so we're going with the visitors to nick this one and get on the board.
Their heaviest defeat in the recent past was a 5-0 away loss to Juventus in the UEFA Europa League and they won't be flying that fast here.
