The European stage beckons again, and a trip to Bulgaria awaits our lads in their UEFA Europa League opener. When the floodlights are on at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, we will face Bulgaria’s top club, Levski Sofia. We have analysed our opponents closely and gathered eight interesting facts about the team we are to face.

#1 | Legacy of the legendary Georgi Asparuhov

The club’s undisputed icon is Georgi Asparuhov. This exceptional striker was one of the continent's most prolific goalscorers in the 1960s, even finishing eighth in the 1965 Ballon d’Or voting. Top European clubs, such as AC Milan, wanted to sign him for record fees, but the Bulgarian regime at the time blocked any move to the west. Following his tragic death in an accident at the age of 28, Levski’s home stadium was named in his honuor - though it does not meet UEFA standards.

#2 | Ancient history and mighty mountains

Our first international trip of the season takes us to a fascinating European metropolis. Home to nearly 1.3 million people today, the home of Levski Sofia boasts a history spanning millennia. Archaeological finds confirm settlement dating back over 5,000 years, while more recent discoveries point to traces of Stone Age habitation from around 8,000 years ago - making the Bulgarian capital one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Europe. Much like Salzburg, Sofia is set against a picturesque mountain backdrop, lying right at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains, which rise to nearly 2,300 metres above altitude.

#3 | Dominance in the 1930s, the turn of the century and a resurgence last year

Levski have never been relegated since the national league was established in 1937. The team dominated the championship at will during the 1930s and 1940s, before another run of titles followed around the turn of the millennium. After a long barren spell without a league title, Levski secured the Bulgarian championship in May 2026 for the first time in 17 years.

#4 | Pioneers in the UEFA Champions League

In the 2006/07 season, Levski made history by becoming the first Bulgarian team ever to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage. The draw handed the team from the capital a truly formidable group featuring Chelsea, Barcelona, and Werder Bremen. Unsurprisingly, their adventure in Europe's premier competition was a case of "taking part is all that counts." The Bulgarians failed to pick up a single point across their six matches, scoring their only goal of the group stage in a 1–3 defeat against Chelsea.

27 Bulgarian league titles

26 Bulgarian cup wins

#5 | A historic scoreline

Levski have a history when it comes to high-scoring spectacles. In the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup, the Bulgarians dismantled Finnish side Lahden Reipas with 12–2 and 7–1 victories. A massive 22 goals resulted in a 19–3 aggregate score - a record for the highest-scoring knockout round in any European club competition. Wild goal-fests were clearly the norm back then as that same year, Levski beat Barcelona 5–4 at home - yet still went out of the tournament.

#6 | Named after a national hero

The club was founded in 1914 by high school students from the Bulgarian capital, who named their team after Vasil Levski. The freedom fighter is revered as a national hero in his homeland, which is why the club still bears the nickname Team of the People to this day. The Blue Lions moniker also stems from this identity - the name Levski is derived directly from the Bulgarian word for lion and was bestowed upon the revolutionary in recognition of his legendary, lion-like courage. Combined with the team's blue kits, this created the trademark identity of our upcoming opponent.

#7 | Multiple name changes in socialist era

The club's history was heavily influenced by political developments. Under the socialist regime, authorities mandated several name changes for the club. At times, the team had to play as Dinamo Sofia and, in the 1980s, as Vitosha Sofia, before reverting to its original name following the political changes of the 1990s.

45.25 Million Euro market value of Levski's squad

#8 | Eternal derby to warm up

Domestic football life is defined above all by clashes with arch-rivals CSKA Sofia. Held at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, this historic encounter is considered one of Southeast Europe's most intense derbies due to the heated atmosphere in the stands. While Levski holds a narrow lead in the overall head-to-head record - with 87 wins in 224 derbies (61 draws, 76 losses) - they were defeated 4–2 in the national Super Cup just last Wednesday.

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8 facts about Levski Sofia before our UEFA Europa League clash