Levski Sofia Beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League Away Win

Levski Sofia claimed a valuable 2-1 away victory over FC Viktoria Plzeň in the UEFA Europa League on 23 October 2026, using a disciplined counter-attacking display to take all three points from Doosan Arena. Martin Petkov gave the Bulgarian side an early lead, Pavel Šulc equalised for Plzeň after the break, and Aleksandar Kolev struck the winner 12 minutes from time.

Match overview

• Competition: UEFA Europa League
• Fixture: FC Viktoria Plzeň vs Levski Sofia
• Venue: Doosan Arena, Plzeň
• Date: 23 October 2026
• Result: FC Viktoria Plzeň 1-2 Levski Sofia

The result gives Levski Sofia an important boost in the Europa League league phase, while Viktoria Plzeň are left with work to do after a home defeat in which they controlled long spells of possession but lacked the final cutting edge.

How the game unfolded

Plzeň started with the greater share of the ball and looked to pin Levski back inside their own half. The Czech side moved the ball quickly through midfield and created the first clear opening in the 14th minute, when Daniel Havel met a deep cross at the back post but directed his header straight at the Levski goalkeeper.

That miss proved costly. Seven minutes later, Levski produced the kind of swift transition that would define their evening. A loose pass in Plzeň’s attacking third was intercepted, and the ball was worked quickly to Martin Petkov on the right. The winger drove into the box and placed a low finish beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Plzeň responded with sustained pressure before half-time, forcing a series of corners and testing Levski’s back line through crosses and second balls. The equaliser finally arrived in the 54th minute when Pavel Šulc, Plzeň’s most inventive midfielder, curled a precise effort from the edge of the area into the far corner. At that stage, the home side looked likely to push on and complete the turnaround.

Instead, Levski regained their composure and defended with greater compactness. The decisive moment came in the 78th minute. Plzeň tried to play out from the back, but a misplaced pass was seized upon by Levski’s midfield. The ball was fed to captain Aleksandar Kolev, who held off a challenge and converted from close range to restore the visitors’ lead.

Plzeň pushed numbers forward in the closing stages and had one final chance from a free-kick in stoppage time, but the effort cleared the crossbar. Levski saw out the remaining moments comfortably enough to secure a notable away result.

Key moments

• 14′: Daniel Havel heads Plzeň’s first big chance straight at the goalkeeper.
• 21′: Martin Petkov finishes a quick counter-attack to give Levski a 1-0 lead.
• 54′: Pavel Šulc curls in a superb equaliser for Viktoria Plzeň.
• 67′: Levski’s goalkeeper makes an important save to deny Plzeň a second goal.
• 78′: Aleksandar Kolev punishes a loose Plzeň pass with the winning goal.
• 90+4′: Plzeň’s late free-kick goes over the bar as Levski close out the win.

Tactical story

Viktoria Plzeň enjoyed 61% possession and produced 16 shots, but only five of those were on target. Their approach was patient and position-based, with Šulc dropping deep to link play and the full-backs pushing high to stretch Levski’s defensive block. The problem was that Plzeň’s best moments came from crosses and set pieces rather than from breaking through the middle, and they were vulnerable whenever they lost the ball in advanced areas.

Levski Sofia were happy to concede territory and defend in a compact 4-4-2 shape. Their midfield stayed narrow, forcing Plzeň wide, and their front two worked hard to cut off passes into the central defenders. When Levski won the ball, they attacked directly. Both goals came from quick transitions, and their willingness to shoot early from promising positions kept the home defence uneasy throughout.

Standout performers

• Martin Petkov (Levski Sofia): Opened the scoring with a calm finish and remained a threat on the counter throughout.
• Aleksandar Kolev (Levski Sofia): Led the line aggressively, held the ball up well, and scored the decisive second goal.
• Pavel Šulc (Viktoria Plzeň): Plzeň’s best player in possession, scoring a fine equaliser and creating several openings.
• Levski’s goalkeeper: Made a crucial save at 1-1 and commanded his area well under late pressure.

What the result means

For Levski Sofia, the win is a significant ma