Liam Duckstein
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Two sides sitting near the foot of the Europa League table meet at Doosan Arena, and both desperately need a result. Plzen have lost both of their opening League Phase games and sit 31st out of 36 with zero points, while Levski Sofia are only marginally better off in 22nd with a single point from two outings. What makes this fixture interesting is the gulf in domestic form right now. Plzen’s attack has been firing in Czech football lately, scoring eight goals across their last five matches overall, yet none of that output has translated into European points so far this season.
Two names stand out heading into this one. Amar Memić has been Plzen’s sharpest finisher recently, scoring twice in his last four appearances while also drawing fouls near the box. On the other side, Marko Grujić gives Levski a physical presence and composure in midfield that their younger players lack, and his distribution often dictates how quickly the Bulgarian side can transition.
Hot stat: Plzen have fired 59 shots in their last five matches compared to just 8 from Levski Sofia in the same stretch, a gap that says a lot about which team dictates tempo when the ball is live.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Europa League 2026/27, League Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Doosan Arena, Pilsner |
| 🗓️ Date: | 22.10.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 21:00 CEST |
Viktoria Plzen vs Levski Sofia prediction
We’re leaning toward a home win here, and not reluctantly either. Plzen might be sitting at the bottom of the standings on points, but their underlying attacking numbers from domestic play (eight goals, 59 shots, 17 corners in five matches) suggest a team that creates chances in bunches. Levski’s away output has been thin by comparison, just one goal and eight shots across their last five fixtures combined. Our team backs Viktoria Plzen to win and we’d pair that with Over 2.5 goals given how porous Levski can look once pressed high.
Plzen commit fouls at a moderate rate (47 across five games) and keep a respectable pass accuracy near 77%, pointing to a side that controls territory without being overly reckless. Levski’s numbers from their available sample are notably passive defensively and offensively, with low shot volume and fewer interceptions than you’d expect from a side chasing a result away from home. That passivity plays right into Plzen’s hands on their own patch.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Viktoria Plzen to win to nil |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Under 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Plzen’s most recent outing ended in a 3-2 win over Jablonec, a result that showed attacking intent but also defensive carelessness, conceding two against a side ranked far below them. Before that, they fell 2-1 away to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, a game where goals came at both ends as expected. In our preview of Ferencvaros vs Viktoria Plzen we leaned toward the home side winning comfortably with goals flying in at both ends, and the final 2-1 scoreline backed that read up. Plzen also beat Mlada Boleslav 3-0 domestically, showing they can be ruthless when the matchup favors them, which bodes well heading into a home game against a team they should outclass on paper.
Levski’s last match produced a 2-0 win over Spartak Pleven domestically, a tidy response after a run of mixed European form. Their previous fixture, a 1-1 draw with Nijmegen in the Europa League, was the one that mattered most for continental purposes. In our preview of Nijmegen vs Levski Sofia we suggested Levski’s away form would stay patchy with goals at both ends likely, and the 1-1 draw played out almost exactly as called. Beyond that result, Levski drew 0-0 with Botev Vratsa and lost 1-0 to Salzburg in Europe, a run that paints a side struggling to find the net outside of domestic football.
Most recent Head-to-Head Matches
Viktoria Plzen and Levski Sofia have no recent competitive meetings on record before this fixture. The two sides are effectively starting fresh with no historical pattern to lean on for this matchup.
🚨Check out our dedicated Viktoria Plzen vs Levski Sofia stats page for more info.
Levski Sofia. Source: Official Facebook
Pre-game odds and win probability: Viktoria Plzen the favourite
- Moneyline Viktoria Plzen 1.76 | Levski Sofia 4.30
- Draw 3.85
The market leans heavily toward Plzen despite their winless start to the League Phase, and that lines up with the underlying numbers we’ve seen from both sides recently. Bookmakers give the hosts around a 54% implied chance, with Levski trailing at roughly 22%. We think that gap is fair given how little attacking threat Levski have shown away from Sofia lately, though the odds on offer for a home win still carry reasonable value for punters backing Plzen outright.
Possible Starting Lineups
Viktoria Plzen possible starting eleven
- GK: Florian Wiegele
- DF: Filip Prebsl, Adam Gabriel, Sampson Dweh, Merchas Doski
- MF: Patrik Hrošovský, Lukáš Červ, Cheick Souare, Stefan Pirgic, Christopher Kabongo
- FW: Amar Memić
Expect Kovac to stick with the 4-2-3-1 shape that’s worked domestically. Hrošovský anchors the midfield with his passing range and three assists in the last four games, while Memić leads the line as the most in-form finisher. Kabongo’s five goal contributions in recent weeks make him a real threat to watch from the attacking midfield slot.
Levski Sofia possible starting eleven
- GK: Svetoslav Vutsov
- DF: Kristian Dimitrov, Aldair, Christian Makoun, Maicon Araújo dos Santos
- MF: Sergio Miguel Lobo Araujo, Mehdi Moubarik, Marko Grujić, Armstrong Oko-Flex, Juan Esteban Perea Sanchez
- FW: Reinaldo Nascimento Satorno
Velázquez’s side also favours a 4-2-3-1, with Lobo Araujo and Moubarik screening the back four. Grujić’s experience should help Levski hold shape against Plzen’s quick transitions, and Reinaldo carries the main goal threat up top after scoring in his last appearance. Watch Oko-Flex for pace on the counter if Plzen push too many bodies forward.
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Viktoria Plzen. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
We predict Viktoria Plzen to pick up their first points of the League Phase at home, perhaps by a two-goal margin given the shot volume difference between these two sides in recent weeks. Levski’s defense has held up reasonably well on paper, but their attack simply hasn’t produced enough to worry sides with genuine firepower, and Plzen fit that description domestically even if their European results haven’t shown it yet. To be honest, this reads as a straightforward home banker once you look past the standings, and our team is backing Plzen to get the job done without much drama.
