- Champions: Levski Sofia are the current Parva Liga 2025/2026 champions, having amassed 76 points in 33 games in the top-flight.
- Standings: CSKA Sofia are third, on 62 points from 33 games, 14 points behind their city rivals.
- Last meeting: Levski Sofia won their last meeting, in Parva Liga 2025/2026, by a 3-1 scoreline.
Pride, tactics and European spots on the line in Sofia derby
Match context
PFC Levski Sofia’s 3-1 win away at PFC CSKA Sofia in Parva Liga 2025/2026 two weeks ago was a key result in the league title race, but the hosts now have no option but to take pride and some tactical bragging rights in the Sofia derby.
Levski tactics
Levski’s boss, Julio Velázquez, has instilled a disciplined, possession-based system since his appointment in January 2025, with structured pressing and rotations allowing his team to control games, whilst being unpredictable in the final third with their wide players coming inside, or their forwards rotating.
CSKA approach
CSKA’s Hristo Yanev, meanwhile, has taken a completely different approach since his arrival at CSKA Sofia in September 2025, employing a system based around compact defending, transition, and lightning-fast counter-attacks.
Levski can dominate possession, but CSKA will get their moments
With Levski already crowned champions for this season, pride and European places are on the line in this matchup. Levski’s home form has been exceptional this campaign, with 39 goals scored across 17 matches, so the odds of 2.33 make them slight favourites for the win on Saturday.
However, CSKA have shown they can lock up at home and spring a few surprises, as they did in their last home game, a 1-0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad, and they won their most recent away game, a 1-0 victory at FC CSKA 1948, before a 1-1 home draw in the return fixture.
Expect a cagey clash with no clear winner
CSKA have scored just 18 goals in their 16 away games in the Parva Liga - Championship Group 2026, and their recent form, like Levski’s, has been mixed, with two wins, two draws, and one defeat in their last five.
- With CSKA’s excellent form and Levski’s head-to-head edge in this fixture, the three-way odds seem a little tight, with Levski at 2.33, CSKA at 2.9 and the draw at 3.34, but with the tension of a derby added to a strong Levski home record, it’s hard to see either side taking the win.
- The average return of the last five head-to-heads at Levski’s ground is just 0.5 goals per team, so we’re looking towards the ‘Under 2.5 goals’ option here, at 1.71.
