- League positions: Lokomotiv Sofia are third in the Parva Liga - Relegation Group 2026 with 43 points from 34 matches, Beroe Stara Zagora are fourth with 33 points.
- Head-to-head: Lokomotiv Sofia have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides and drawn the other, beating Beroe Stara Zagora 2-1 at home just four weeks ago.
- Recent form: Lokomotiv Sofia have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five matches, Beroe Stara Zagora have won three and drawn two of their last five.
Home advantage could be decisive
Odds and form
PFC Lokomotiv Sofia are the favorites at 1.79, with Beroe Stara Zagora 3.99 to win on Thursday, but the visitors are in fine form and will not be an easy challenge.
The hosts have won just one of their last five but have drawn their two most recent matches 2-2 and are undefeated in their last two home games, while Beroe are unbeaten in five after winning three and drawing two.
Tactics and approach
Aleksandar Georgiev’s side have had a mixed season and although they sit third, they are only just above the relegation zone. Georgiev has recently taken charge and he has a pragmatic mindset, setting up his side in a compact back four, structure-first approach.
Lokomotiv are not the fastest team on the pitch, so they need to ensure they are a solid unit and then look to hurt opponents on the break by creating numerical superiority in transition, wide areas and through the center of the field.
Beroe have had a better season, largely thanks to manager Josu Uribe who has brought his possession-based, Spanish football tactical flair to the Bulgarian Parva Liga - Relegation Group 2026. Beroe play a 3-1-4-2 with high wingbacks and their possession-based football includes plenty of vertical combinations and third-man passing to break through the opposition lines.
Beroe look to end losing record at Lokomotiv
Beroe have won their last two away games in the league, but have failed to win at Lokomotiv Sofia in their previous two attempts.
Beroe’s overall away record in the group is respectable for a team with their aspirations - W4, D5, L8 from 17 - but they score only 0.82 goals per game and concede 1.47 goals on average. Lokomotiv score 1.41 goals per home game and only concede 1.12, so it is fair to say Under 2.5 goals, at 1.88, could be the best approach for this clash.
Lokomotiv are the home side and have historically dominated this fixture, and although the odds don’t offer much of a return, they should have enough to beat a Beroe side who are in good form at the moment. But don’t underestimate Beroe, whose form could keep this game close.
- Lokomotiv’s goal-getter Georgi Minchev, who has scored three times in the last five games, is the danger man for the hosts, while Ismael Ferrer, who also has three in the same five games, can give Beroe a cutting edge.
- But it is Spas Delev who has been the heartbeat of Lokomotiv’s play, providing four assists in their last five, while Juan Pineda has three assists in Beroe’s last five.
