Dimitrov scores early, Levski Sofia defeat Universitatea Craiova.
Levski Sofia defeated Universitatea Craiova 1-0 at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, thanks to a goal from Dimitrov in the 8th minute. This result sealed the victory for Levski Sofia, while Universitatea Craiova suffered a disappointing defeat.
- 0'The match has started.
Levski Sofia hosts Universitatea Craiova.
- 8'K. Dimitrov puts Levski Sofia ahead.
In the 8th minute, K. Dimitrov scored for Levski Sofia after an assist from Serginho, giving them a 1-0 lead against Universitatea Craiova.
- 34'O. Romanchuk received a yellow card.
In the 34th minute, O. Romanchuk of Universitatea Craiova received a yellow card for a foul involving pulling an opponent. This was an early warning sign for the visiting team as the match was already tense.
- 41'A. Neves received a yellow card before halftime.
In the 41st minute, A. Neves of Levski Sofia received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. This served as a warning to Levski Sofia in the final minutes of the first half, when they were leading Universitatea Craiova 1-0.
- 41'N. Bancu received a yellow card before halftime.
In the 41st minute, N. Bancu of Universitatea Craiova received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. This served as a warning to the visiting team, especially considering they were trailing Levski Sofia.
- 45'End of the first half
At the end of the first half, the score was 1-0.
- 46'The second half has begun.
The second half has begun.
- 46'Levski Sofia made personnel changes at the start of the second half.
In the 46th minute, Levski Sofia made a substitution: G. Trdin came on, M. Moubarik left his position. The home team made the adjustment while leading Universitatea Craiova 1-0.
- 50'Everton Bala received a yellow card.
In the 50th minute, Everton Bala of Levski Sofia received a yellow card after a roughing. This served as a warning to Levski Sofia, especially considering they were leading Universitatea Craiova.
- 62'Universitatea Craiova made a substitution in the 62nd minute.
In the 62nd minute, Universitatea Craiova brought S. Nsimba onto the field to replace S. Elisor. Trailing 1-0, the visitors needed more momentum to find an equalizer.
- 64'Levski Sofia makes personnel changes.
In the 64th minute, Levski Sofia brought A. Centelles on to replace A. Oko-Flex. Leading 1-0, the home team made further substitutions to maintain their advantage.
- 75'Universitatea Craiova made a substitution in the 75th minute.
In the 75th minute, Heriberto Tavares came on as a substitute for S. Baiaram of Universitatea Craiova. The visiting team hoped this substitution would provide a boost as they were trailing Levski Sofia 1-0.
- 75'T. Baluta came on, Craiova made a change.
In the 75th minute, T. Baluta came on as a substitute for A. Mekvabishvili for Universitatea Craiova. The team made another substitution while trailing Levski Sofia 1-0, in an attempt to find a way to change the outcome of the remaining match.
- 79'D. Kusso came on as a substitute for Everton Bala.
In the 79th minute, Levski Sofia made a substitution, with D. Kusso coming on to replace Everton Bala. This was a notable change in the final minutes of the match.
- 80'Universitatea Craiova made a substitution in the 80th minute.
In the 80th minute, Teles came on as a substitute for M. Etim for Universitatea Craiova. The team was trailing Levski Sofia 1-0 and needed another option to find an equalizer.
- 90'Levski Sofia made a substitution in the 90th minute.
In the 90th minute, Levski Sofia made a substitution: S. Stoyanchov came on for Reinaldo. Levski Sofia still led 1-0 in the final minutes.
- 90'Levski Sofia was substituted in the 90th minute.
In the 90th minute, M. Soula came on as a substitute for Serginho for Levski Sofia. The home team was holding onto their 1-0 lead in the final minutes.
- 90+1'Maicon received a yellow card in injury time.
In the 90+1st minute, Maicon of Levski Sofia received a yellow card after a foul. Leading 1-0, Levski Sofia needed to maintain their focus in the final minutes.
- KTEnd: Levski Sofia 1-0 Universitatea Craiova
The match ended with a score of 1-0.
Updated at 02:23 on July 23, 2026
Match information
Levski Sofia will face Universitatea Craiova at 00:30 on July 23, 2026, at the Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov stadium, as part of the UEFA Champions League. This is a noteworthy match as the two teams enter the game with contrasting form.
Levski Sofia has the home advantage, but Universitatea Craiova is enjoying a more positive run of results. This contrast could create a closely contested match, with the home team needing to capitalize on their familiar playing space while the visitors aim to maintain their winning momentum.
Levski Sofia needs to translate its stability into pressure.
In their last two matches, Levski Sofia have had one draw and one win. This result shows that the team remains unbeaten, but has not yet achieved a winning streak ahead of this important home match.
The key for Levski Sofia is their ability to control the tempo of the game. The home team shouldn't let the game become too open unless they've established a clear initiative. Maintaining a reasonable defensive formation and patiently building up play will help them minimize the gaps that may appear when organizing attacks.
Furthermore, the home advantage at Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov will only be realized if Levski Sofia can maintain the pressure long enough. A cautious approach might help the home team maintain balance, but they also need to create moments of increased speed to trouble the Universitatea Craiova defense.
Universitatea Craiova has better psychological momentum.
Universitatea Craiova have won their last two matches. Compared to Levski Sofia, the away team has a more positive record and enters the match with favorable momentum. However, playing away from home requires them to control the game well in the early minutes, especially since Levski Sofia may take the initiative to apply pressure.
The away team may prioritize a pragmatic approach: maintaining their formation, reducing space for the opponent, and waiting for the right moment to switch from defense to attack. Their two-game winning streak has boosted confidence, but that doesn't mean the match will be easy, especially since Levski Sofia are unbeaten in their last two games.
Tactical hotspot
Since the source of information does not provide tactical diagrams or expected lineups, it is impossible to determine the specific system that the two coaches will use. Therefore, the focus of the match will likely be on how each team handles transitions and contests for control of the game.
Levski Sofia may try to take advantage of their home advantage to increase the tempo at opportune moments. Conversely, Universitatea Craiova needs to maintain discipline and avoid letting the gaps between their lines widen. The team that better controls the changes in tempo will have a better chance of gaining the upper hand.
Pre-match analysis
Levski Sofia has shown consistency with one win and one draw in their last two matches, while Universitatea Craiova has been more impressive with two consecutive wins. These numbers give the visitors a certain psychological advantage, but playing at home gives Levski Sofia a solid basis for aiming for a balanced match.
Overall, this is a match where patience, the ability to maintain formation, and how to react to each attack could decide the outcome. Universitatea Craiova is in better form, while Levski Sofia has the opportunity to rely on home advantage to trouble their opponent. The match therefore promises to be tight and unpredictable.
*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
