Braga will commence their UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday with a trip to Levski Sofia for the first leg of the second qualifying round.

While the Portuguese outfit secured direct entry into this stage by virtue of their domestic standing, the Bulgarian side had to overcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the previous phase.

Match preview

Thanks to a stronger coefficient ranking, Braga’s fourth-place finish in the 2024-25 Primeira Liga was sufficient to earn them a spot in this round.

However, there will be a lingering sense of disappointment, as the Archbishops squandered the chance to qualify directly for the group phase following a poor run-in, where they failed to win any of their last four matches in the division, drawing three and losing one.

As a result, Os Arcebispos are taking the qualification route for the second successive season, having also finished fourth in 2023-24, and while the Portuguese outfit reached the group stage last term, their journey did not extend beyond that.

Thursday’s contest will mark Braga’s first competitive fixture since a draw against Benfica brought their league season to a close — a match that also served as Carlos Carvalhal’s final game at the helm.

Carlos Vicens was appointed as head coach on July 1, and the Spaniard has made an instant impact, overseeing five wins from as many friendlies, the most recent of which was an impressive 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo.

Levski Sofia, on the other hand, come into this clash fresh from a commanding 5-0 triumph over newly promoted Montana in their opening match of the 2025-26 Bulgarian top flight.   

That emphatic win ensures Julio Velazquez’s men share top spot with Ludogorets, level on points and goal difference, in what is already shaping up to be a closely contested title race, following a previous campaign where Levski finished nine points adrift in second place.

That runner-up position earned the Blues a place in the Europa League first qualifying round, where they battled to a goalless home draw against Be'er Sheva before prevailing on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate in the reverse fixture in Israel.

While they may not be European regulars, the Bulgarian outfit do have a modest pedigree in continental competition, having reached the UEL group stage twice (2009-10 and 2010-11), and will be eager to take a step closer to replicating that achievement with a strong showing on home soil.

Momentum is certainly in Levski’s corner, as they are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run across all competitions, including four friendly outings, while they have also won two and drawn as many in their last four competitive home fixtures.

Levski Sofia Europa League form:

Levski Sofia form (all competitions):

Braga form (all competitions):

Team News

Levski Sofia will welcome back left-back Maicon following suspension, having served a ban after his red card in the first leg of the previous round.

With the side emerging unscathed from the win over Montana, head coach Velazquez is expected to keep changes to a minimum and stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup.

Mustapha Sangare could retain his role as the lone striker after getting on the scoresheet in that match, while Marin Petkov is likely to support from behind, having excelled in that advanced midfield role with a brace over the weekend.

Braga head coach Vicens has shown a flexible approach to tactics, recently deploying both a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-1-2, so it remains to be seen which shape he opts for in his competitive debut.

One near certainty is that veteran midfielder Joao Moutinho will anchor the midfield alongside Jean-Baptiste Gorby in a double pivot, while Fran Navarro is expected to lead the line once again.   

Ricardo Horta could either partner Navarro in a front two or drift in from the flanks depending on the setup, while Lukas Hornicek is set to retain his place in goal.

Levski Sofia possible starting lineup:

Vutsov; Kandem, Dimitrov, Trdin, Maicon; Ohene, Kostadinov; Fabian, Petkov, Kirilov; Sangare

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornicek; Arrey-Mbi, Oliveira, Lagerbielke; Dorgeles, Moutinho, Gorbi, Carvalho; Zalazar; Navaro, Horta

We say: Levski Sofia 1-2 Braga

Braga head into this first-ever meeting between the sides as clear favourites, boasting more European experience and a strong run of preseason form under their new manager.

However, Levski’s impressive run and sharpness in front of goal suggest they could make things difficult, particularly as the hosts have scored in six of their last seven outings across all competitions.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi

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