Levski Sofia Edge Past CS Universitatea Craiova in Champions League Qualifier

A solitary first-half goal was enough to give Levski Sofia a narrow 1-0 victory over CS Universitatea Craiova in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round on 23 July 2026. The match, played under the lights at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, saw the Bulgarian champions take a crucial advantage into the second leg.

The decisive moment arrived in the 34th minute when Levski’s attacking midfielder, Radoslav Tsonev, latched onto a clever through-ball from captain Georgi Milanov. Tsonev’s low drive from the edge of the area beat the Romanian goalkeeper cleanly, sending the home fans into raptures. The goal capped a period of sustained pressure from Levski, who had earlier hit the crossbar through a looping header from central defender José Cordoba.

Tactical Battle in the Midfield

Craiova, last season’s runners-up in Liga I, struggled to impose their passing game in the face of a well-drilled Levski midfield. The Romanian side’s main threat came in the second half when they introduced forward Andrei Ivan, but the Bulgarian defence, marshalled by veteran Noah Sonko Sundberg, held firm. Craiova’s best chance fell to midfielder Alexandru Crețu, whose long-range effort in the 78th minute was tipped over the bar by Levski goalkeeper Plamen Andreev.

The result leaves the tie finely poised. Levski will travel to Craiova for the second leg on 30 July, knowing that an away goal would put them in a commanding position. For the visitors, the narrow defeat is far from disastrous, and they will back themselves to overturn the deficit in front of their own supporters.

Match Statistics and Key Takeaways

• Possession: Levski Sofia 48% – 52% CS Universitatea Craiova
• Shots on target: Levski 4 – 3 Craiova
• Yellow cards: Levski 2 – 1 Craiova

The return leg promises to be an intense affair, with both sides eyeing a spot in the next qualifying round and a potential route to the lucrative group stage.