- Team form: Spartak Varna’s overall record in the Parva Liga reads W2, D1, L2 over their last five games.
- Unbeaten run: Lokomotiv Sofia are unbeaten in their last five Parva Liga games (W2, D3).
- Home/away form: Spartak Varna have not lost either of their last two at home (W1, D1), while Lokomotiv Sofia are also unbeaten in their last two away trips (W1, D1).
Everything to play for in Relegation Group encounter
The head-to-head record between PFC Spartak Varna and PFC Lokomotiv Sofia in all competitions across the last five meetings stands at W2, D2 and L1, with the last game on this ground ending in a 2-2 draw.
In the current Parva Liga Relegation Group, Varna are 5th with 31 points from 34 matches, while Lokomotiv Sofia are 3rd with 43 after 34, so there is everything to play for on Friday. Spartak Varna have failed to lose any of their last two at home, and Lokomotiv Sofia have failed to win on their last two visits to the Stadion Spartak.
Spartak Varna can edge it
Spartak Varna
Gjokica Hadzievski’s side have been much better than their league position suggests, and the coach has moulded his players into a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 unit, with the wingers providing width and the team transitioning quickly from defence to attack with some structured mid-block pressing.
There are some defensive weaknesses in their system, but Hadzievski’s players have played with more tempo and attacking intent this season, and they have a real goal threat with the clinical Tsvetelin Chunchukov up front - he’s netted two of their four goals in the last five.
Lokomotiv Sofia
Aleksandar Georgiev has done a good job to steady the ship at Lokomotiv Sofia after a season in which they have had several coaches, and his pragmatic approach has ensured that the team are on a five-match unbeaten streak (W2, D3).
Their recent results include a 2-0 home win against Slavia Sofia and back-to-back draws with Montana and Beroe.
Lokomotiv Sofia have played 17 away games in the competition and have a record (W5, D5, L7) - averaging 1.41 goals scored and 1.47 conceded per away match.
- Key players to watch: Tsvetelin Chunchukov and Georgi Minchev.
- Momentum: Lokomotiv Sofia are on a five-match unbeaten run.
- Match outlook: Expect an open game with counter-attacks and set-play threats.
The game within the game
Sofia’s Georgi Minchev has been in great form over the past few games with three goals in the seven that Lokomotiv have scored, and he will be a threat throughout the match.
The main market odds look skewed with Varna 1.62, Sofia 5.0 and the draw at 3.9, but we’ll go with the hosts because of home advantage, their more attack-minded nature and the fact that they have everything to gain in this clash of local rivals.
A low-stakes wager on the Over 2.5 goals market also appeals at 1.73 as this could be a fairly open game between a home side and an away side that will sit in a mid-block and attempt to counter-attack or score on set plays, while the result could be decided in transition.
