Recap
CSKA and Cherno More will compete in an extremely interesting match from the efbet Liga playoffs. The match will be played at the Georgi Benkovski stadium in Pazardzhik due to punishment of the „army team“. Initially, CSKA was sanctioned with two matches without an audience, but then the Appellate Commission changed its decision and allowed the capital team to play in front of its supporters, but at least 50 kilometers outside Sofia in the direction of Varna.
The match is extremely important for CSKA. Sasha Ilic’s players are second in the standings, but are only 1 point behind the leader Ludogorets. With a possible victory today, the „reds” will climb to the leadership position and will be there for at least a few hours before the „eagles” play their match against Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Since the beginning of the season, CSKA have only had 3 defeats. They are in quite good shape with two big victories in a row against Hebar (0:4) and Botev Vratsa (5:1).
Cherno More enters as fifth in the ranking. Today’s match is also important for the „sailors”, as they still have a chance to chase the top 4 and secure at least a barrage for European ticket. Four days ago, they lost the semi-final clash against Ludogorets after a penalty shootout in the Bulgarian Cup and missed the opportunity to qualify for the final of the tournament. They are in pretty good shape undefeated for 7 games in a row, but the bad news for the coach Iliev is that in today’s match he can’t count on key defenders Popov (27/1 suspended), Atanasov (27/1 suspended) and captain Dimov (11/1)
In the next round, CSKA will play the match for the title against Ludogorets in Razgrad, so today they must take the three points in order to keep their title dreams alive.