UEFA Europa League 1st Qualifying Round
Levski Sofia 0 - 0 FT Hapoel Beer Sheva
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Levski Sofia
Goalkeepers
S. Vutsov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
A. Neves
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Dimitrov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
C. Makoun
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Maicon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tsunami
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
G. Kostadinov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Petkov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Kirilov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Everton Bala
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Rildo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
O. Vladimirov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
O. Kamdem
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Fabio Lima
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
G. Trdin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
P. Myslovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Fabien
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Sangare
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Rupanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Hapoel Beer Sheva
Goalkeepers
N. Eliasi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
G. Mizrahi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Miguel Vitor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Baltaxa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Lopes
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Lucas Ventura
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. C. Ganah
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Peretz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
M. Kanaan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Biton
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Zlatanovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
O. Marciano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
O. Blorian
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
O. Davidzada
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Siman Tov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Levy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Z. Ahmed
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Turgeman
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Almog
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Y. Shani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Hazut
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/10/2025 | Levski Sofia | 0 - 0 | Hapoel Beer Sheva | UEFA Europa League | Georgi Asparuhov Stadium |
| 08/17/2023 | Levski Sofia | 2 - 1 | Hapoel Beer Sheva | UEFA Europa Conference League | Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov |
| 08/10/2023 | Hapoel Beer Sheva | 0 - 0 | Levski Sofia | UEFA Europa Conference League | Yaakov Turner Toto Stadium |
07/10/2025
08/17/2023
08/10/2023
Levski Sofia Win
Hapoel Beer Sheva Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Blood, Sweat, and Red Cards in Sofia
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. A scoreless brawl leaves this Europa League qualifying tie delicately poised for an incredibly tense second leg.
A War of Attrition
European nights under the lights at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium always carry a distinct, heavy atmosphere. This Europa League first qualifying round tie immediately felt the pressure of the occasion. Both Levski Sofia and Hapoel Beer Sheva stepped onto the pitch knowing the massive Stakes at play. A spot in the main competition is a financial and sporting lifeline. Rather than free-flowing attacking football, the opening half descended into a gritty midfield battle. Neither side wanted to blink first. The tackles flew in constantly, disrupting any chance of building an offensive rhythm. Yellow cards began piling up early on, setting a combative tone that would define the entire evening. It was a classic continental stalemate where the fear of making a mistake completely paralyzed the ambition to win.
The Discipline Crumbles
The match needed a creative spark, but instead, it got a flash of severe indiscipline. As the second half wore on, the Intensity spiked for all the wrong reasons. The crucial turning point arrived in the 71st minute. Maicon Araujo dos Santos committed a massive error in judgment, earning himself a straight red card. Suddenly, the Bulgarian hosts were down to ten men, forced into a desperate defensive shell. You would expect the Israeli visitors to smell blood and launch an all-out assault. Instead, the match became even more fragmented. The numerical advantage rarely translated into sustained pressure. The away side struggled to pick the lock, frequently caught out by the sheer physicality of the defensive block. The Balance of power shifted on paper, but the reality on the pitch remained stubbornly deadlocked.
A Bruising Stalemate
As the clock ticked toward full time, the mounting frustration completely boiled over. Deep into stoppage time, Eliel Peretz lost his cool, seeing a red card of his own in the 95th minute. That late dismissal leveled the playing field to ten men apiece, capping off an incredibly ill-tempered affair. The final whistle blew on a raw, bruising zero-zero draw. Ultimately, neither side showed enough quality in the final third to deserve an advantage. The sheer lack of attacking edge means this tie is effectively a one-match shootout next week. Hapoel Beer Sheva will feel they missed a golden opportunity against ten men, while Levski simply survived the storm. Both managers now face a massive headache dealing with key suspensions before the decisive return leg.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Maicon Araujo dos Santos impact the match?
It forced Levski Sofia to drop deep and defend resolutely. Surprisingly, Hapoel Beer Sheva failed to capitalize on the numerical advantage, leading to a gritty, scoreless deadlock.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Fine Margins in Early European Qualification
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 13/100. With a modest rating, this cagey qualifier is less about pure entertainment and entirely about surviving the grueling first continental hurdle.
The Setup
The long road to European group stage football begins right here. On July 10, 2025, Levski Sofia welcome Hapoel Beer Sheva to the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium for this crucial UEFA Europa League first qualifying round clash. Neither squad boasts massive Stars to rely on, meaning this tie requires flawless tactical discipline and sheer willpower. Given the early-season timing, overall Form remains largely a mystery, but the underlying Balance of the matchup points to an attritional battle where one mistake could end a European campaign before it even starts. The Stakes are entirely focused on advancing to the next round, leaving absolutely no room for reckless attacking displays.
Key Battle
Without standout individual matchups dominating the narrative, this tie will be won and lost in the engine room. Levski's midfield must find a way to break down a resilient away back line that will undoubtedly set up to frustrate the hosts. Home patience against away defensive rigidity is the defining theme.
Our Prediction
Expect a tense, low-scoring affair. A gritty 1-1 draw seems the most likely outcome, with the visitors prioritizing defensive solidity to keep the tie well and truly alive for the return leg in Israel.