Botev Plovdiv 4-0 Spartak Pleven | International Club Friendly | 24 June 2026

Match Overview

Bulgarian First League side Botev Plovdiv warmed up for the upcoming season in emphatic style, thrashing second‑tier Spartak Pleven 4‑0 in a pre‑season friendly played at the Botev 1912 Football Complex. The hosts dominated from start to finish, showcasing their depth ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.

First Half: Early Dominance Sets the Tone

Botev Plovdiv needed only six minutes to open the scoring. Forward Aleksandar Kolev latched onto a through ball from captain Viktor Gyunchev and finished coolly past Spartak goalkeeper Ivan Ivanov. The goal was the first of three in the opening 45 minutes.

In the 28th minute, winger Tomas Papazov doubled the lead with a looping header from a cross by right‑back Dimitar Pirgov. Just before the break, midfielder Petar Petrov smashed home a loose ball from the edge of the box to make it 3‑0. Spartak Pleven had no answer to Botev’s pressing and quick passing.

Second Half: Controlled Display by Botev

The second half saw Botev rotate several players, giving minutes to fringe squad members. They added a fourth goal in the 63rd minute when substitute striker Martin Svetoslavov tapped in from close range after a corner was flicked on by centre‑back Nikolay Nikolaev.

Spartak Pleven had a few half‑chances but rarely troubled Botev goalkeeper Georgi Georgiev, who had a quiet afternoon. Botev could have scored more, but the 4‑0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the gulf in quality between the sides.

Key Performers

• Aleksandar Kolev (Botev): Opened the scoring and was a constant threat with his movement.
• Tomas Papazov (Botev): Showed excellent aerial ability to score and set up chances.
• Viktor Gyunchev (Botev): The captain orchestrated play from midfield with vision and passing.

Friendly Context

This match was part of Botev Plovdiv’s pre‑season schedule as they prepare for the start of the Bulgarian First League in July. Spartak Pleven are building towards their second‑division campaign and will take lessons from a tough outing against top‑flight opposition. Botev’s next friendly is against Romanian side Sepsi OSK on 28 June.