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Levski Sofia vs AEK match

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The gist

Levski Sofia host AEK Athens in the Champions League playoff first leg on 18 August. The winner takes a step closer to the league phase.

Background

Levski Sofia and AEK Athens meet in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-offs. The two-legged tie determines who advances to the league phase. Levski have been strong at home, winning all six home matches and conceding just one goal, while AEK needed stoppage-time drama to get past their previous round.

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 22, 2026Levski Sofia beat Universitatea Craiova 1-0 in the second qualifying round first leg.
  2. Jul 29, 2026Levski drew 2-2 away to Universitatea Craiova, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.
  3. Aug 4, 2026Levski beat Kairat 1-0 in the third qualifying round first leg.
  4. Aug 11, 2026Levski won 1-0 away to Kairat, winning 2-0 on aggregate to reach the play-offs.
  5. Aug 18, 2026Levski Sofia host AEK Athens in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs at Stadion Georgi Asparuhov, kick-off 20:00 GMT.

Who’s saying what

Analysts
Levski's compact defense and home form give them an edge, but AEK's experience could see them score.
Bulls
Levski are unbeaten in all competitions since May and have won five consecutive home matches, making them strong favorites.
Bears
AEK have enough quality in attack, with Luka Jovic as a primary threat, to trouble Levski's defense.

Still unverified

Injuries could limit Levski's options, particularly in attacking areas, but no specific players were confirmed absent.

Sources

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