Levi Rothermund
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Nijmegen welcome Levski Sofia to Stadion de Goffert with both sides sitting at the wrong end of the 36-team League Phase table after matchday one. Nijmegen are rock bottom following a brutal 0-5 defeat to Juventus, while Levski sit just above them having lost 0-1 away at Salzburg. Neither club arrives with much Europa League momentum, yet the domestic pictures tell a different story: Levski have won 60% of their league games this season, more than Schreuder’s Nijmegen side can claim. The Dutch club, oddly enough, out-shot and out-passed most of their recent opponents by a wide margin, which suggests this isn’t a side completely out of ideas, just one that keeps leaking goals at the wrong moments.
Watch for Dušan Tadić leading the line for Nijmegen. He’s logged full minutes in every recent outing and remains the creative focal point even in his thirties. On the other side, Armstrong Oko-Flex has been Levski’s most direct attacking threat, carrying the ball forward with pace that Nijmegen’s defense, shaky after conceding five in a single game, may struggle to contain.
Hot stat: Nijmegen’s 0-5 collapse against Juventus is the heaviest defeat of any team across the opening round of this Europa League League Phase that also sits at -5 goal difference, leaving them dead last among all 36 participants after just one match.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Europa League 2026/27, League Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Stadion de Goffert, Nijmegen |
| 🗓️ Date: | 15.10.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 21:00 CEST |
Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia prediction
We think the value here sits with Nijmegen avoiding defeat rather than backing them outright. Home advantage counts for something, and their underlying numbers from the last five matches, 36 total shots compared to Levski’s 14, 1235 passes against 464, show a side that controls territory even when results go against it. Levski have been efficient but not dominant away from home, and their attack has struggled to create volume. A draw or a narrow home win feels more likely than a repeat of the Juventus hammering.
Nijmegen have committed 40 fouls and picked up 3 yellow cards across their last five outings, a fairly physical approach that could frustrate Levski’s possession game. Levski, by contrast, play a tidier style with just 9 fouls and 1 card in the same sample, relying more on patient build-up. That contrast in discipline often tilts set-piece and card markets, and with Nijmegen conceding needlessly in recent weeks, we wouldn’t be shocked if both sides find the net here.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Double Chance Nijmegen or Draw (1X) |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Under 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Nijmegen’s recent form reads rough on paper. Their last five games produced three draws and two losses, with no win in that stretch. The 0-5 drubbing against Juventus stands out as the low point, but even the draws against Ajax and GA Eagles showed a team that creates chances without finishing them off. In their most recent match, a 1-1 draw with Ajax, Nijmegen matched a much stronger side for large spells, which at least suggests the squad hasn’t given up on fighting for results despite sitting last in the group.
Levski Sofia’s picture is a bit brighter. Their most recent outing ended in a comfortable 2-0 win over Cherno More, snapping a run of mixed results that included a 0-1 Europa League loss to Salzburg, a 0-0 draw with Botev Vratsa, and a 2-4 defeat to CSKA Sofia. Julio Velázquez’s side looks capable of good spells domestically but has struggled for consistency in Europe so far. The win over Cherno More, scoring twice without reply, gives them something to build on heading into Nijmegen.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
Nijmegen and Levski Sofia have no recent competitive meetings on record. This fixture marks their first known encounter in this Europa League cycle, so there’s no head-to-head history to lean on for this preview.
🚨Check out our dedicated Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia stats page for more info.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Nijmegen the favourite
- Moneyline Nijmegen 1.86 | Levski Sofia 4.00
- Draw 3.78
Pinnacle’s pricing lines up closely with the bookmakers’ average expectation of roughly 50% for Nijmegen, 26% draw, and 24% for Levski. Honestly, that gap feels a touch generous toward the home side given how porous their defense has looked recently. We’d lean toward backing value on the draw or a BTTS angle rather than chasing the short price on Nijmegen to win outright.
Possible Starting Lineups
Nijmegen possible starting eleven
- GK: Nikolas Polster
- DF: Gabriel Bras, Almugera Kabar, Yassin Moslih, Bram Nuytinck
- MF: Tobias Storm, Darko Nejašmić, Tjaronn Chery, Noe Lebreton, Jamiro Monteiro
- FW: Dušan Tadić
Schreuder has stuck with a 4-2-3-1 shape in recent weeks, and the double pivot of Storm and Nejašmić gives some defensive cover in front of a back four that’s been shaky. Chery remains the one to watch for his creative output, while Tadić leads the line as the most experienced finisher available.
Levski Sofia possible starting eleven
- GK: Svetoslav Vutsov
- DF: Kristian Dimitrov, Christian Makoun, Maicon Araújo dos Santos, Aldair
- MF: Gasper Trdin, Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo, Mazire Soula
- FW: Armstrong Oko-Flex, Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno, David Kusso
Velázquez’s side plays a flexible 4-2-3-1 that can stretch into a front three depending on the game state. Oko-Flex is the player most likely to trouble Nijmegen’s full-backs, and Marko Grujić, despite limited minutes so far, is a name worth watching if he’s handed a start given his pedigree in midfield.
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Nijmegen. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
The Verdict
We’re siding with Nijmegen to find a bit of home comfort here, but not by much. Their defensive issues are real, five conceded in a single Europa match doesn’t happen to teams playing well at the back, and Levski’s away form has been patchy rather than poor. Our call leans toward Nijmegen avoiding defeat, with goals at both ends likely given how open both backlines have looked lately. A 2-1 or 1-1 scoreline wouldn’t surprise us at all, and BTTS Yes carries real appeal given both attacks have shown they can score against mid-table continental company.
