2018–19 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)

First Professional Football League
Season 2018–19
Matches played 77
Goals scored 182 (2.36 per match)
Top goalscorer Romania Claudiu Keșerü
Bulgaria Stanislav Kostov
(8 goals)
Best goalkeeper Lithuania Vytautas Černiauskas
(7 clean sheets)
Biggest home win Ludogorets 5–1 Cherno More
(29 September 2018)[1]
Biggest away win Cherno More 1–5 Septemvri Sofia
(4 August 2018)[2]
Highest scoring Ludogorets 5–1 Cherno More
(29 September 2018)[3]
Cherno More 1–5 Septemvri Sofia
(4 August 2018)[4]
Dunav Ruse 2–4 Etar
(15 September 2018)[5]
Cherno More 4–2 Vereya
(5 October 2018)[6]
Longest winning run 5 games by Levski Sofia[7]
Longest unbeaten run 7 games by Levski Sofia[7]
Longest winless run 11 games by Vereya[7]
Longest losing run 8 games by Septemvri Sofia[7]
Highest attendance 23,000
CSKA Sofia 0–1 Levski Sofia
(29 September 2018)[8]
Lowest attendance 50
Septemvri Sofia 0–2 Etar
(1 September 2018)[9]
2019–20 →
All statistics correct as of 7 October 2018.

The 2018–19 First Professional Football League is the 95th season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 70th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid and also the 3rd season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 20 July 2018 and is scheduled to finish on 2 June 2019.[10]

Teams

Fourteen teams are competing in the league – the top thirteen teams from the previous season, and one team promoted from the Second League.[11]

Botev Vratsa were promoted as champions of the 2017–18 Second League.[12] The promoted club replaced Pirin Blagoevgrad, who were relegated after elimination in the relegation play-offs by Vitosha Bistritsa.[13]

Stadia and locations

Sofia 2018–19 First League football clubs
Team Location Stadium Capacity (seating)
Beroe Stara Zagora Beroe 12,128
Botev Plovdiv Botev 1912 Football Complex 4,000
Botev Vratsa Hristo Botev
Ogosta		 12,000
8,000
Cherno More Varna Ticha 8,250
CSKA Sofia Balgarska Armiya 18,495
Dunav Ruse Gradski, Ruse 12,400
Etar Veliko Tarnovo Ivaylo 18,000
Levski Sofia Vivacom Arena - Georgi Asparuhov 25,000
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Lokomotiv 13,000
Ludogorets Razgrad Ludogorets Arena 11,000
Septemvri Sofia Vasil Levski National Stadium 43,230
Slavia Sofia Slavia
Vasil Levski National Stadium		 25,556
43,230
Vereya Stara Zagora Trace Arena 3,500
Vitosha Bistritsa Bistritsa Stadium 2,500

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Additional
Beroe Bulgaria Aleksandar Tomash Bulgaria Martin Raynov Uhlsport[14] — Refan, Ajax Group
Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria Nikolay Kirov Bulgaria Lachezar Baltanov Uhlsport[15] WinBet[16] —
Botev Vratsa Bulgaria Sasho Angelov Bulgaria Ivaylo Mihaylov Joma WinBet Kozloduy NPP
CSKA Sofia England Nestor El Maestro Bulgaria Nikolay Bodurov adidas A1 Bulgaria WinBet, Baristo
Cherno More Bulgaria Ilian Iliev Bulgaria Georgi Iliev Uhlsport Armeets —
Dunav Bulgaria Lyudmil Kirov Bulgaria Martin Kovachev Joma WinBet SanSi
Etar Bulgaria Krasimir Balakov Bulgaria Ivan Stoyanov Joma[17] WinBet —
Levski Sofia Slovenia Slaviša Stojanovič Bulgaria Bozhidar Mitrev Nike Vivacom Strabag, Efbet, Spetema
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Bosnia and Herzegovina Bruno Akrapović Bulgaria Bircent Karagaren Uhlsport[18] Efbet General Broker
Ludogorets Bulgaria Antoni Zdravkov Bulgaria Svetoslav Dyakov Umbro[19] Efbet[20] Vivacom, Spetema
Septemvri Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Arangelov Bulgaria Boris Galchev Uhlsport[21] Efbet[21] —
Slavia Sofia Bulgaria Zlatomir Zagorčić Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Joma bet365 —
Vereya Serbia Nebojša Miličić Bulgaria Ivo Ivanov Uhlsport Efbet Spetema
Vitosha Bistritsa Bulgaria Rosen Kirilov Bulgaria Georgi Amzin Jumper[22] Efbet[23] —

Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Vitosha Bistritsa Bulgaria Kostadin Angelov Promoted to Director of football 30 May 2018 Pre-season Bulgaria Rosen Kirilov 1 June 2018[24]
Vereya Brazil Elias Demoted to assistant1 4 June 2018 Bulgaria Ivan Kolev 4 June 2018[25]
Ludogorets Bulgaria Dimitar Dimitrov Mutual consent 6 June 2018 Brazil Paulo Autuori 6 June 2018[26]
CSKA Sofia Bulgaria Hristo Yanev End of caretaker tenure 7 June 2018 England Nestor El Maestro 7 June 2018[27]
Levski Sofia Italy Delio Rossi Mutual consent 18 July 2018 Bulgaria Todor Simov (caretaker) 18 July 2018[28]
Bulgaria Todor Simov End of caretaker tenure 31 July 2018 4th Slovenia Slaviša Stojanovič 31 July 2018[29]
Vereya Bulgaria Ivan Kolev Mutual consent 14 August 2018 14th Serbia Nebojša Miličić 14 August 2018[30]
Dunav Bulgaria Malin Orachev Mutual consent 17 September 2018 12th Bulgaria Tsvetomir Mladenov (caretaker) 17 September 2018[31]
Septemvri Bulgaria Nikolay Mitov Mutual consent 28 September 2018 13th Bulgaria Hristo Arangelov (caretaker) 28 September 2018[32]
Dunav Bulgaria Tsvetomir Mladenov End of caretaker tenure 1 October 2018 12th Bulgaria Lyudmil Kirov 1 October 2018[33]
Ludogorets Brazil Paulo Autuori Mutual consent 9 October 2018 2nd Bulgaria Antoni Zdravkov 9 October 2018[34]

1.^ No license for First League.

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Levski Sofia 11 9 1 1 19 6 +13 28 Qualification for the Championship round
2 Ludogorets Razgrad 11 8 2 1 22 8 +14 26
3 CSKA Sofia 11 8 1 2 21 4 +17 25
4 Beroe 11 5 5 1 14 6 +8 20
5 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 11 5 2 4 11 10 +1 17
6 Botev Plovdiv 11 5 2 4 15 9 +6 17
7 Cherno More 11 4 3 4 16 21 −5 15 Qualification for the Relegation round
8 Etar 11 4 3 4 11 11 0 15
9 Vitosha Bistritsa 11 4 1 6 9 15 −6 13
10 Slavia Sofia 11 3 4 4 10 11 −1 13
11 Botev Vratsa 11 3 2 6 9 19 −10 11
12 Dunav Ruse 11 2 2 7 13 23 −10 8
13 Septemvri Sofia 11 1 1 9 8 20 −12 4
14 Vereya 11 0 3 8 5 20 −15 3
Updated to match(es) played on 7 October 2018. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw.[35]

Results

Home \ Away BER BPD BVR CHM CSK DUN ETA LEV LPL LUD SEP SLA VER VIT
Beroe — 2–1 4–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
Botev Plovdiv — 0–0 4–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 2–3
Botev Vratsa — 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–0 1–4
Cherno More 0–0 2–1 — 1–5 1–2 4–2 1–0
CSKA Sofia 3–1 — 3–0 0–1 2–0 2–1 4–0
Dunav Ruse 1–1 3–1 — 2–4 1–2 2–0
Etar 1–1 1–1 — 1–2 1–0 1–0
Levski Sofia 1–0 2–2 a — 2–0 2–0 4–1
Lokomotiv Plovdiv a 0–2 0–0 1–0 — 2–4 3–0
Ludogorets Razgrad 5–1 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–1 — 2–1
Septemvri Sofia 0–2 1–2 0–3 0–2 1–3 —
Slavia Sofia 1–1 0–0 0–1 2–0 0–0 — 0–2
Vereya 0–2 1–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 — 0–1
Vitosha Bistritsa 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 2–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 7 October 2018. Source: bulgarian-football.com
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For coming matches, an a indicates there is an article about the match.

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Levski Sofia43221112211
Ludogorets Razgrad55843433322
CSKA Sofia11112221133
Beroe6105353444444
Lokomotiv Plovdiv14141265765555
Botev Plovdiv127359677866
Cherno More22988556797
Etar138111112131199108
Vitosha Bistritsa364768881079
Slavia Sofia74710799106810
Botev Vratsa1013141310111011111111
Dunav Ruse119101213101212121212
Septemvri Sofia8126911121313131313
Vereya911131414141414141414

Updated to match(es) played on 7 October 2018. Source: bulgarian-football.com

Top scorers

As of match(es) played on 7 October 2018[36]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bulgaria Stanislav Kostov Levski Sofia 8
Romania Claudiu Keșerü Ludogorets
3 Brazil Maurides CSKA Sofia 6
4 Bulgaria Martin Kamburov Beroe 5
Bulgaria Todor Nedelev Botev Plovdiv
Bulgaria Petar Atanasov Botev Vratsa
Bulgaria Ahmed Ahmedov Dunav Ruse
8 Bulgaria Borislav Tsonev Beroe 4
Bulgaria Steven Petkov Botev Plovdiv
Bulgaria Georgi Bozhilov Cherno More
Bulgaria Kiril Despodov CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Daniel Mladenov Etar
Cape Verde Jerson Cabral Levski Sofia
Brazil Marcelinho Ludogorets
15 Brazil Wanderson Ludogorets 3
France Chris Gadi Septemvri Sofia
Bulgaria Galin Ivanov Slavia Sofia
18 Bulgaria Martin Raynov Beroe 2
Bulgaria Lachezar Baltanov Botev Plovdiv
Cape Verde Patrick Andrade Cherno More
Bulgaria Georgi Iliev Cherno More
Bulgaria Radoslav Vasilev Cherno More
Ghana Edwin Gyasi CSKA Sofia
Portugal Rúben Pinto CSKA Sofia
Portugal Tiago Rodrigues CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Martin Kovachev Dunav Ruse
Bulgaria Bozhidar Vasev Dunav Ruse
Albania Flo Bojaj Etar
Bulgaria Rumen Rumenov Etar
Switzerland Davide Mariani Levski Sofia
Croatia Ante Aralica Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Dimitar Iliev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Simeon Raykov Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Democratic Republic of the Congo Jody Lukoki Ludogorets
Bulgaria Boris Galchev Septemvri Sofia
Bulgaria Slavcho Shokolarov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Georgi Yomov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Anton Ognyanov Vereya
Montenegro Milan Vušurović Vereya
Bulgaria Stefan Hristov Vitosha Bistritsa
Bulgaria Daniel Kutev Vitosha Bistritsa
Bulgaria Ivaylo Lazarov Vitosha Bistritsa
43 Portugal Mesca Beroe 1
Portugal Rúben Brígido Beroe
Bulgaria Kristian Dimitrov Botev Plovdiv
Brazil Gustavo Affonso Botev Plovdiv
Bulgaria Serkan Yusein Botev Plovdiv
Bulgaria Valeri Bojinov Botev Vratsa
Bulgaria Yuliyan Nenov Botev Vratsa
Bulgaria Martin Minchev Cherno More
Democratic Republic of the Congo Aristote N'Dongala Cherno More
Guinea-Bissau Jorginho CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Stanislav Manolev CSKA Sofia
The Gambia Ali Sowe CSKA Sofia
Bulgaria Borislav Baldzhiyski Dunav Ruse
Bulgaria Georgi Dinkov Dunav Ruse
Bulgaria Ivan Kokonov Dunav Ruse
Bulgaria Krasimir Stanoev Dunav Ruse
Montenegro Veljko Batrović Etar
Bulgaria Erik Pochanski Etar
Bulgaria Georgi Sarmov Etar
France Anthony Belmonte Levski Sofia
Bulgaria Iliya Dimitrov Levski Sofia
Iceland Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson Levski Sofia
Czech Republic David Jablonský Levski Sofia
Belgium Abdelhakim Bouhna Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Asen Georgiev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Bircent Karagaren Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Croatia Filip Mihaljević Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Tajikistan Parvizdzhon Umarbayev Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Bulgaria Dimo Bakalov Ludogorets
Bulgaria Anton Nedyalkov Ludogorets
South Africa May Mahlangu Ludogorets
Netherlands Virgil Misidjan Ludogorets
Romania Cosmin Moți Ludogorets
Ghana Ishmael Baidoo Septemvri Sofia
Bulgaria Asen Chandarov Septemvri Sofia
Bulgaria Zdravko Dimitrov Septemvri Sofia
Bulgaria Milcho Angelov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Tsvetelin Chunchukov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Yanis Karabelyov Slavia Sofia
Bulgaria Valeri Domovchiyski Vereya
Bulgaria Stanislav Malamov Vereya
Bulgaria Grigor Dolapchiev Vitosha Bistritsa
Bulgaria Nasko Milev Vitosha Bistritsa
Bulgaria Ivan Valchanov Vitosha Bistritsa

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
France Chris GadiSeptemvri SofiaCherno More5–1[37]4 August 2018
Romania Claudiu KeșerüLudogoretsBotev Vratsa4–1[38]7 October 2018

Clean sheets

As of match(es) played on 7 October 2018[39]
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Lithuania Vytautas Černiauskas CSKA Sofia 7
2 Slovakia Martin Polaček Levski Sofia 6
Bulgaria Martin Lukov Lokomotiv Plovdiv
4 Slovakia Dušan Perniš Beroe 5
Poland Daniel Kajzer Botev Plovdiv
6 Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov Etar 4
Bulgaria Georgi Petkov Slavia Sofia
8 Bulgaria Krasimir Kostov Botev Vratsa 3
Bulgaria Blagoy Makendzhiev Cherno More
10 Argentina Jorge Broun Ludogorets 2
Brazil Renan Ludogorets
Bulgaria Georgi Georgiev Vereya
Bulgaria Nikolay Georgiev Vitosha Bistritsa
14 Bulgaria Filip Dimitrov Dunav Ruse 1
Bulgaria Valentin Galev Septemvri Sofia

Transfers

References

  1. ↑ "Ludogorets vs. Cherno More 5–1". soccerway.com. 29 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Cherno More vs. Septemvri Sofia 1–5". soccerway.com. 4 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Ludogorets vs. Cherno More 5–1". soccerway.com. 29 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Cherno More vs. Septemvri Sofia 1–5". soccerway.com. 4 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Dunav 2010 vs. Etar 2–4". soccerway.com. 15 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Cherno More vs. Vereya 4–2". soccerway.com. 5 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Bulgaria - 1st league - streaks and sequences". soccerstats.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "CSKA Sofia vs. Levski Sofia 0–1". soccerway.com. 29 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Septemvri Sofia vs. Etar 0–2". soccerway.com. 1 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Жребият за професионалния футбол е изтеглен" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 8 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "Състав на Първа и Втора професионална лига за сезон 2018/2019" (in Bulgarian). bfunion.bg. 8 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "След голяма драма Ботев Враца се завърна в Първа лига!" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 19 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "Витоша изхвърли Пирин от Първа лига след обрат в луд мач" (in Bulgarian). blitz.bg. 21 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Представяме ви екипа на "Берое" за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). beroe.bg. 19 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "ВИДЕО: Екипът на Ботев за новия сезон" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 13 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "WINBET e новият спонсор на ПФК "Ботев"" (in Bulgarian). botevplovdiv.bg. 3 August 2018.
  17. ↑ ""Етър" с нови екипи през сезон 2018/2019 г." (in Bulgarian). etarvt.bg. 20 July 2018.
  18. ↑ "Екипите на Локомотив за сезон 2018/2019" (in Bulgarian). lokomotivpd.com. 12 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Лудогорец ще играе с Umbro през следващите два сезона" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 7 July 2017.
  20. ↑ "Efbet is Ludogorets' new official main sponsor". ludogorets.com. 6 June 2018.
  21. 1 2 "Септември представи новите екипи, целите пред отбора са ясни" (in Bulgarian). fcseptemvri.com. 17 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Звездно трио представи новите екипи на Витоша" (in Bulgarian). fcvitosha.bg. 15 July 2017.
  23. ↑ "Третият във Втора лига обяви официален спонсор" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 17 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Новият старши треньор на Витоша: Искам да променя мисленето на играчите (видео)" (in Bulgarian). fcvitosha.bg. 1 June 2018.
  25. ↑ "Иван Колев е новият треньор на Верея" (in Bulgarian). fcvereya.bg. 4 June 2018.
  26. ↑ "Ludogorets has a new head manager" (in Bulgarian). ludogorets.com. 6 June 2018.
  27. ↑ "Нестор Ел Маестро е новият треньор на ЦСКА" (in Bulgarian). cska.bg. 7 June 2018.
  28. ↑ "Левски има временен треньор, той ще води "сините" срещу Ботев Пд" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 18 July 2018.
  29. ↑ "Промени в треньорския щаб на клуба" (in Bulgarian). levski.bg. 25 July 2018.
  30. ↑ "Верея се раздели с Иван Колев, сърбинът Небойша Лекич пое отбора" (in Bulgarian). fcvereya.bg. 14 August 2018.
  31. ↑ "ФК "Дунав" се раздели с Малин Орачев" (in Bulgarian). fcdunav.eu. 17 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "Ето кой ще наследи Митов начело на Септември" (in Bulgarian). sportal.bg. 30 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "Людмил Киров е новият старши треньор на ФК „Дунав"" (in Bulgarian). fcdunav.eu. 1 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "ПФК „Лудогорец" и Пауло Аутори се разделят по взаимно съгласие". ludogorets.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "A PFG - Regular season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  36. ↑ "Първа лига 2018/19" [First League 2018/19] (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  37. ↑ "CHERNO MORE VS. SEPTEMVRI SOFIA 1 - 5". soccerway.com. 4 August 2018.
  38. ↑ "BOTEV VRATSA VS. LUDOGORETS 1 - 4". soccerway.com. 7 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "Първа лига 2018/19" [First League 2018/19] (in Bulgarian). bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
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