UEFA Europa League Gameweek 2
NEC Nijmegen 1 - 1 FT Levski Sofia
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Bournemouth
3-0
AC Milan
โก Intensity
75
โ๏ธ Balance
20
๐ Stakes
3
๐ฒ Upset
0
Two penalties, one red card, total control
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
24' Noe Lebreton
Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno (Svetoslav Vutsov) 35'
HT
โ David Kusso โArmstrong Oko-Flex 62'
โ Mehdi Moubarik โGasper Trdin 62'
64' Tjaronn Chery
โ Marko Grujiฤ โMazire Soula 75'
75' โ Perr Schuurs โAhmetcan Kaplan
โ Francisco Everton Mota de Castro โJuan Esteban Perea Sanchez 75'
84' โ Clement Bischoff โDennis Geiger
84' โ Duลกan Tadiฤ โWillum Thor Willumsson
90'+2 โ Noe Lebreton โAlmugera Kabar
90'+2 โ GabrielยทBras โYassin Moslih
โ Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno โรlex Centelles 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
NEC Nijmegen
Goalkeepers
Gonzalo Crettaz 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Gabriel Brรกs 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Perr Schuurs
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Deveron Fonville
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Kevin Kers 
DRIBBLER
6
Dribbles
6
Dribbles
6
Attempts
100%
Success %
Darko Nejaลกmiฤ 
MAGNET
71
Activity
71
Activity
59
Passes
12
Duels
Noe Lebreton 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
29%
Pass Acc
6.5
Rating
Clement Bischoff 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
27%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Tjaronn Chery 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
5
Shots
7.9
Rating
Bryan Linssen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Duลกan Tadiฤ
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
BENCH
Joep Geneste 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Nikolas Polster
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Almugera Kabar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Kaplan 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yassin Moslih
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Dennis Geiger
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jamiro Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Willum Willumsson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kaj Sierhuis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Levski Sofia
Goalkeepers
Svetoslav Vutsov 
OCTOPUS
8
Saves
8
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Aldair
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
47%
Duel Win %
Kristian Dimitrov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christian Makoun
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
78%
Duel Win %
Maicon
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
33%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
El Mehdi El Moubarik
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Marko Grujiฤ
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Serginho
MAGNET
64
Activity
64
Activity
52
Passes
12
Duels
Forwards
David Kusso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Reinaldo
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
7.7
Rating
Everton Bala
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
BENCH
Martin Lukov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ognyan Vladimirov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Nikola Serafimov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hevertton Santos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
รlex Centelles
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gasper Trdin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mazire Soula
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Armstrong Oko-Flex
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Perea
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +8
P: 3 GD: +8
P: 3 GD: +7
P: 3 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +7
P: 3 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -7
P: 3 GD: -8
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
NEC Nijmegen
Levski Sofia
NEC Nijmegen
Levski Sofia
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Vutsov's Goalkeeping Masterclass Frustrates NEC in Tense Draw
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. A phenomenal goalkeeping display salvaged a vital point for Levski Sofia in a desperate bottom-table scrap against NEC Nijmegen.
An Anxious Beginning
The crisp evening atmosphere inside Stadion de Goffert crackled with a remarkable level of Intensity as two struggling sides searched desperately for their first points in this UEFA Europa League campaign. Knowing this felt like a continental six-pointer, NEC Nijmegen edged possession early on, patiently trying to dictate the tempo against a heavily fortified Bulgarian defensive block. However, it was Levski Sofia who nearly drew first blood to silence the passionate home support. In a heart-stopping 17th minute, Francisco Everton Mota de Castro thought he had secured the perfect start, only for VAR to decisively step in and cancel the goal. That dramatic reprieve gave the hosts a momentary lifeline, but the visitors remained undeterred, continually asking questions on the counter-attack during a frantic opening phase.
A Route One Masterclass
The true turning point of the evening arrived in the 35th minute through a sequence rarely witnessed on the modern European stage. With the Stakes exceptionally high for both winless clubs, Levski Sofia found their magical breakthrough from the most unlikely of playmakers. Goalkeeper Svetoslav Vutsov bypassed the entire midfield with a breathtaking, visionary long distribution that caught the retreating home defense completely flat-footed. Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno expertly gathered the dropping ball and clinically buried it into the net. This stunning, direct goalkeeper assist completely fractured the tactical setup of the match. It was a brutal sucker punch for the Dutch outfit, perfectly rewarding the visitors' ruthless efficiency despite their relatively limited time on the ball throughout the first half.
The Dutch Resurgence
Refusing to capitulate on home soil, NEC Nijmegen emerged from the tunnel with renewed vigor, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks that completely shifted the Balance of the contest. Their sheer persistence finally paid tangible dividends in the 64th minute when Tjaronn Chery confidently fired home a heavily deserved equalizer. The second half saw the home side rack up the vast majority of their 18 total attempts, turning the penalty box into a frantic shooting gallery. Despite generating impressive expected goals and keeping the pressure dialed up until the final whistle, they simply could not find a winner. Vutsovโs heroic tally of eight spectacular saves stood as an immovable wall. Ultimately, this dramatic draw leaves both clubs painfully hungry for a victory.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR ruled out an early 17th-minute strike by Francisco Everton Mota de Castro, forcing Levski Sofia to regroup before finally scoring later in the half.
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.
Survival Instincts Kick In
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 58/100. An early-season reality check for both sides means only a victory will keep their European playoff hopes alive.
The Setup
Matchday 2 of the UEFA Europa League brings a heavy atmosphere to the Goffertstadion on October 15, 2026. NEC Nijmegen sit dead last in 36th place after a brutal opening week left them with a minus-five goal difference. Levski Sofia are barely breathing easier in 27th. Both clubs desperately need points to climb toward the top-24 playoff line. Our pre-match Form indicators are rock bottom for both squads, reflecting their opening day missteps. Yet, a remarkably high Balance rating suggests there is very little separating these two struggling sides. The Stakes are escalating quickly; another loss could prove fatal for their continental campaigns. With a modest rating for overall Stars on display, home fans will be hoping veterans like D. Tadiฤ can provide the missing spark for the Dutch outfit.
Key Battle
This contest will be decided by sheer resilience rather than technical brilliance. The home side's defensive unit must plug the gaping holes exposed last week. They face a visiting attacking line entirely devoid of confidence after failing to register a single goal in their opener. Whichever unit blinks first will likely cost their team the match.
Our Prediction
We expect a gritty, physical encounter where aesthetics take a back seat. NEC Nijmegen's desperation in front of their home crowd should just tip the scales. A narrow 1-0 victory for the home side seems the most probable outcome.